Police to Amnesty: Retract your inaccurate report on killing of #EndBadGovernance protesters

In the report, the organisation said at least 24 protesters
were killed during the August nationwide protests.

The global human rights organisation said 1,200 protesters
were arrested during the demonstration.

The organisation added that Nigerian authorities perpetrated
“acts of torture and other ill-treatment against protesters”.

The protest against pervasive hardship in the country lasted
for 10 days in August and turned violent in certain states — with police
shooting teargas at demonstrators and journalists in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna,
among others.

There were also reported cases of looting and vandalism in
some northern states.

After the report was published, NPF said Kayode Egbetokun,
inspector-general of police,  ordered
“comprehensive investigation into the claims”.

‘PUBLIC APOLOGY
NEEDED’

Speaking during the briefing, Adejobi said the IGP had
constituted a special investigation panel to investigate the “claims” made by
Amnesty International.

The force spokesperson said members of the panel visited the
affected states and considered the reports submitted by commissioners of
police.

He added that the findings of the panel formed the crux of
his media briefing.

Adejobi denied the allegations that police officers killed
the trio of Nasiru Mustapha, Amodu Garba Maina, and Momodu Hassan, who were
staff of Kime and Sons filling station, with a hand grenade.

The force spokesperson said the petrol attendants were
killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted at the filling station.

“In Katsina State, Amnesty International alleged that one
Shafiu Mukhtar of Filin Sanyi Kofar, Sauri, Katsina, aged 21, was shot dead by
the police on 5th August, 2024,” Adejobi said.

“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.

“Amnesty International’s report claimed that on 1st October,
2024, the police in Kaduna State killed one Abubakar Adamu Abdullahi, a
24-year-old tailor, by shooting him in the chest.

“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.

“The Nigeria Police Force 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.

“Amnesty International is advised to have retrospection on
its frequently false reporting on Nigerian’s law enforcement activities and
reflect on its reporting methodology, by ensuring that its reports are accurate
and contains true and fair expression of events that touches on National
Security and safety of all Nigerians.

“The Nigeria Police Force will in due time be writing the
Amnesty International to demand for a retraction of this report from the public
space and with a public apology.”