Kehinde Fajobi
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has called on Amnesty International to retract and apologise for its report titled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on and Bad Governance Protests”, which accused the police of human rights violations during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the NPF disclosed that it had written a letter dated 6 January 2025, demanding an immediate public apology from Amnesty International.
The statement categorically dismissed the claims in the report as false and baseless.
“The NPF emphasizes 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,” it said.
The NPF maintained that national media coverage provided evidence of the police’s efforts to safeguard peaceful protesters while arresting criminal elements who attempted to exploit the protests.
The statement added, “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.
“Such false claims harm the reputation of the organization and demoralise its officers who risk their lives to protect the public.”
The NPF has given Amnesty International seven days to issue a formal retraction and public apology. Failure to comply will prompt the police to consider legal action to protect its reputation.
Amnesty International, in its report, alleged that the Nigerian police used excessive force during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations between 1-10 August 2024, resulting in at least 24 deaths across six states, including Borno, Kaduna, and Kano.
The report claimed that police fired live ammunition at close range, often targeting protesters’ heads or torsos, and used tear gas indiscriminately, leading to injuries and suffocation.
“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,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.
Sanusi further called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent investigation into the alleged violations.
“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,” he added.
The NPF reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives, upholding the law, and earning public trust, while insisting that Amnesty International’s report misrepresented the actions of its officers.