Police Faults Amnesty International Report of Protesters’ Deaths

The Nigeria Police has faulted a recent 34-page report released by Amnesty International, which alleged that officers of the NPF were responsible for the deaths of innocent Nigerians during the #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024.

The NPF, in a statement released on Monday, December 2, described the allegations as unfounded, misleading, and inconsistent with incident reports submitted to the office of the inspector-general of police (IGP) by affected commands.

The police reiterated that throughout the protests, it operated in compliance with established rules of engagement, including providing security for peaceful protesters.

Amnesty International on November 28 alleged that about 24 Nigerians, who protested against economic hardship in August were killed through the use of excessive force in six States of Nigeria.

The report also claimed that about 1,200 others, including minors, were arrested, and detained by the police in some states in the north.

The statement issued on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, refuted the allegations, describing them as unfounded, and confusing.

The Force reiterated that throughout the protests, it complied with established rules of engagement, including providing security for peaceful protesters.

Adejobi, however, said the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has “directed a comprehensive investigation into the claims. Commissioners of Police in the affected states have been mandated to submit further detailed reports on the incidents within one week.

“This directive aims to identify any deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and rules of engagement, irrespective of the security agencies involved”.

The statement added that the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, had issued clear directives to all commissioners of police on managing the protests, emphasising that officers should not deploy arms to manage protests.

“Instead, arms were only to be used when protests escalated into riots involving loss of lives and property damage. Even then, engagement with armed protesters was limited strictly to specialised armed units to restore order.

“The Nigeria Police Force recorded several unpalatable incidents during the protests, which were accurately documented and publicly shared.

“For example, in Borno State, four individuals tragically lost their lives, and 34 others sustained severe injuries following an attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP operatives who infiltrated the protest and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED),” the NPF stated.

The police said in a similar, “isolated incident,” an unregistered vehicle rammed into protesters, resulting in fatalities. “These events, which accounted for the total of seven recorded deaths during the protests, were not caused by police actions,” the Force added.

The Police argued that it employed strategic measures, including the lawful use of tear gas, to prevent further escalation and ensure public safety.

The Amnesty report partly reads:

Police Used Excessive Force to Violently Quash #Endbadgovernance Protests

Nigerian police used excessive force against protesters during the nationwide #Endbadgovernance demonstrations between 1-10 August, killing at least 24 people in the states of: Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Niger, Amnesty International said in a briefing published today.

“Bloody August: Nigerian Government’s Violent Crackdown on #Endbadgovernance Protests”documents the violent crackdown on peaceful protests against rampant corruption and economic hardship. Those killed included 20 young people, an older person and two children.

In all cases the victims were shot by the police, firing live ammunition at close range often at the head or torso, suggesting that officers were shooting to kill. Two survivors suffered injuries after being shot by police in the arm and legs, others were suffocated by the indiscriminate use of tear gas.

“People in Nigeria witnessed unbelievable lawlessness as security personnel fired live ammunition at peaceful protests. The death toll could be higher than 24 because of the authorities’ desperate efforts to cover up the atrocities. Peaceful protest over government policies is now a matter of life and death in Nigeria,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

“The Nigerian authorities must hold the police and other security agencies to account for unleashing deadly force on people who did not constitute an imminent threat to lives. It is shocking that police have engaged in flagrant denials of wrongdoing despite public evidence to the contrary, and this speaks to their utter disregard for the sanctity of human lives. President Bola Tinubu must constitute an independent and impartial investigation of human rights violations during the #Endbadgovernance protests.”