…… demand apology, retraction from AI, threaten litigation.
The Nigeria Police Force Spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has accused Amnesty International of being economical with the truth on events that occurred during the #EndBadGovernance Protest that rocked different states in Nigeria, further declaring that the police personnel did not shoot or kill anyone as alleged by AI.
Adejobi made this declaration while briefing journalists on the latest findings by a committee set up to look into allegations raised AI its report, “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests,” which was released on November 2024.
According to an AI report, the Nigeria Police Personnel killed at least 24 persons in six northern states during the protests.
Speaking at the media briefing, Adejobi said: “The claims made by Amnesty International in this report were at variance with the records available to the Nigeria Police. All recorded incidents of violence during the protests were documented by the police in all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“These records are available at both the Department of Operations and the Department of Research and Planning of the Nigeria Police Force. It is, therefore, surprising to see in Amnesty International’s report such unfounded claims that contradicted what was recorded during the protests.”
The Force image manager explained that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in response to the allegations contained in the AI report, directed a comprehensive and independent investigation into these claims.
To this end, a special investigation panel was immediately constituted and given a deadline to submit its findings.
“The IGP also mandated Commissioners of Police in the states mentioned in the report to verify the allegations as they pertain to their states and to submit additional reports on the incidents. Following these directives, the Commissioners of Police in the affected states conducted extensive inquiries in their localities and submitted their findings to the Inspector-General of Police. Copies of these findings were sent to the special investigation panel.
“Furthermore, members of the panel visited the affected states and areas mentioned in the report, compiling their findings in a comprehensive document submitted to the IGP. This report forms the crux of today’s briefing, where I will present a detailed investigation report addressing the wide-ranging allegations made against the police in Amnesty International’s report,” said Adejobi.
Responding to the allegations of shootings and killings carried out by the Police state by state, said that the panel verified that in Borno State protesters were violent, engaging in widespread looting, pillaging, and wanton destruction of public and private property.
He explained that AI claimed that three people died after a hand grenade was thrown into a filling station by a convoy of police vehicles.
He added: “These allegations are not only false and misleading but are also a clear attempt to incite the general public against the police and tarnish the image of the Nigeria Police Force in the eyes of the international community.
“For the record, the Nigeria Police does not possess or utilize explosive hand grenades in its operations. Explosive hand grenades have never been purchased, issued, or utilized by the Nigeria Police Force since its establishment as a law enforcement agency. How and where Amnesty International obtained such information can only be speculated upon by mischievous minds.”
He disclosed that the three victims were killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) fabricated with a safety-free mechanism and planted at the filling station on Baga Road, Maiduguri—not at Bolori Junction.
He also revealed that the deceased persons were not protesting as claimed by AI, but were believed to have been killed for choosing to ignore the protests and continue with their lawful business.
He said: “ It should also be noted that the Nigeria Police, based on credible intelligence, had warned ahead of the protests of terror elements planning to infiltrate the demonstrations. The protest in Borno State on 1st August 2024, witnessed three IED explosions planted by unknown persons.
“The Police Bomb Disposal Unit responded to these explosions, recovered evidence of the improvised explosive devices and facilitated the evacuation of casualties to the hospital.
“Therefore, the claims by Amnesty International that the Police threw a hand grenade from a convoy of vehicles into a Filling Station killing three persons is a blatant falsehood and leaves right-thinking members of the society dismayed at this reported falsehood by an international agency which ought to act by international norms and standard of fair and honest reporting of human rights violations in the country.”
Adejobi also mentioned that AI goofed concerning reports of killings in Niger State.
According to him, AI claimed that three persons were shot and killed in Niger State. This said Adejobi, is false.
WITHDRAWAL OF FALSE PUBLICATION ACK.
His words: “Reputable sources in Suleja and Tafa areas confirmed that nobody was killed by the police in Niger State on 1st August 2024. It is instructive to note that Amnesty International’s claim was based solely on an unverified and disputed report published in Premium Times on 18th August 2024, titled ‘How Police Killed, Injured Protesters During End Bad Governance Protest in Niger State.’
“For an international agency to publish a report based on unverified local tabloid information is unethical. If Amnesty International’s motives were genuine, it would have verified this information from local authorities before publication.”
In Katsina State, Adejobi denied that police shot dead 21-year-old Shafiu Mukhtar on 5th August 2024.
“This report has been fact-checked and found to be false. Reliable sources confirmed to the verification team that there was no report of any killing in the community on that day. There are also no records in police stations or hospitals of such an incident,” emphasised Adejobi.
AI’s report claimed that on 1st October 2024, the police in Kaduna State killed one Abubakar Adamu Abdullahi, by shooting him in the chest.
Adejobi said: “However, from verified records, there was no protest in Kaduna on that date, nor was there any killing recorded. Instead, on 6th August 2024, during the protests, a military patrol at Samaru, Zaria, accosted some youths vandalizing public property. In the process of firing a warning shot, one Ismail Mohammed was accidentally hit by a bullet and died on the way to the hospital.
“The Nigerian Army immediately took responsibility for this incident, conducting an open investigation, arresting the soldier responsible, and visiting the family of the deceased. Amnesty International’s report on this incident is a misrepresentation.”
Adejobi said that the same case played out in Jigawa State, where an AI report claimed that two female citizens were shot and killed by the Police at Hadejia and Dutse.
The report identified those killed as Halima Abdullahi, 28 and Sadiya Sabiu, 20. A third victim, a male, Rabiu Salihu was said to have been killed in Dutse.
Adejobi stated: “This report has also been found to be inaccurate and misleading. There is no evidence of killing at Hadejia as confirmed by relevant authorities of the Hadejia Emirate Council.
“The alleged death of Halima Abdullahi and Sadiya Sabiu is false, while Rabiu Salihu was not killed by the Police as alleged but died from injuries sustained when some protesters who attempted to gain forceful entry into the Government House Dutse, hurled stones and hard objects in his direction and fatally injured him on the head.
“ He was eventually rescued by the Police and rushed to the Dutse Teaching Hospital where he succumbed to his injury. The assertion by Amnesty International that he was shot in the head by the Police is emphatically false and outrageous especially as the report stated that he died the next day.
“One wonders how a victim of a gunshot to the head would manage to survive for that long. It must be noted that even when the protesters in Jigawa became violent and riotous, the Police restrained itself and avoided the use of firearms against the protesters.”
Adejobi explained that although AI claimed that police shot and killed 12 persons in Kano State, unconfirmed records suggested that 12 persons comprising 11 males and one female died from various degrees of injuries, none was attributed to police action.
“The unverified reports suggested that some of the protesters who died, were killed by the owners of the property they were looting and pillaging, and others were killed by assailants who took undue advantage of the crisis and riot across the city to perpetrate heinous crimes,” said Adejobi.
He said that verified records in Kano State Police Command showed there was no documented evidence or records of loss of lives reported to the Police by relatives of the deceased.
He added: “It is important to note that some of the Protesters arrested in Kano had in their possession AK47 Rifles, which were recovered and properly documented by the Police in Kano.
“A Protester found in possession of firearms was identified as Mahe Ahmed Mohammed. He was arrested with Rifle Nos.9130 and 1494 along with fifty-nine other suspects, who had invaded the premises of Kano State High Court at the Audu Bako Secretariat and stolen several government properties.”
Adejobi stressed that the NPF categorically denies the allegations of excessive use of force as claimed by Amnesty International as these claims are false, misleading, and an unfair misrepresentation of the actions and conduct of our officers.
He opined that the NPF operates under the highest professional standards and remains fully committed to upholding human rights and the rule of law.
His words: “Our officers deployed for protest management are regularly being trained in compliance with international human rights standards.
“While the NPF respects and recognizes the constitutional right of citizens to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, it is equally charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order.
“During the #EndBadGovernance protests, police officers were deployed to safeguard protesters, protect lives and property, and prevent disruptions caused by infiltrators seeking to hijack the demonstrations.
“Contrary to Amnesty International’s claims, there is no credible evidence to support allegations of killings or excessive use of force by the police. Reports of officers firing live rounds at protesters or targeting unarmed civilians are baseless and were not corroborated by independent investigations.
Evidence available to the NPF indicates that certain elements infiltrated the protests to incite violence, destroying public property, and endangering public safety.
“The police responded with minimum force without the use of firearms to disperse such disruptive elements by legal guidelines. Detentions and prosecutions were conducted within legal frameworks, and allegations of arbitrary arrests, maltreatment, or denial of legal access are unsubstantiated.
“The report released by Amnesty International on the End Bad Governance Protest in Nigeria is inaccurate and misleading. All international organizations that are independent of political and economic interest are required by ethical and international best practices to demonstrate objectivity, fairness and balance in their reportage. Unfortunately, these qualities were missing in the Amnesty International report.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has threatened to take legal action against Amnesty International (AI) for alleged false publication on last year’s #EndBadGovernance protest.
The police said it would go to court, if the global rights watchdog does not publish a retraction over the publication.
The police demanded the apology and retraction over AI’s report, titled: Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown On and Bad Governance Protests, in a letter, dated January 6, 2025, written to Amnesty International.
A statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi reads: “The publication in question, which includes numerous unsubstantiated claims, falsely accuses the Nigeria Police of human rights violations, police brutality, and excessive violence during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests. Upon careful review and investigation, the NPF categorically rejects these baseless allegations, affirming that the claims are entirely false and without foundation.
“The NPF emphasises that during the protests, the police acted with restraint and professionalism, even at the highest point of provocation and violent attacks, adhering to global best practices and using minimal force where necessary.
“Evidence, including national media coverage, demonstrates the police’s efforts to maintain law and order while safeguarding peaceful protesters. Criminal elements attempting to exploit the protests were, however, arrested and dealt with according to the law.
“The Nigeria Police Force strongly believes that this misleading publication undermines the trust and confidence it has worked diligently to build with Nigerian citizens and residents. The Force further underscores that such false claims harm the reputation of the organisation and demoralise its officers who risk their lives to protect the public.”
