#EndBadGovernance: IGP orders investigation into Amnesty’s claim of police brutality

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered an investigation into the claim by a rights watchdog, Amnesty International, on the involvement of police in the death of #EndBadGovernance protesters in many parts of the country.

Amnesty had in a statement issued last Friday by its Director in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, accused the police of using “excessive force” against the protesters during the nationwide demonstrations against economic hardship held in August.

The group alleged that police killed 24 people and detained 1,200 minors across states in the North.

However, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumiyiwa Adejobi, described the Amnesty claims as outright falsehood.

He added that the IGP had ordered an investigation into the claims.

The statement read: “The Nigeria Police Force has expressed serious concern regarding a recent 34-page report released by Amnesty International, which alleges police culpability in the deaths and arrests of protesters, and the use of excessive force during the #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024.

“The Force categorically refutes these allegations as unfounded, misleading, and inconsistent with incident reports submitted to the office of the Inspector-General of Police by affected Commands.

“The Force wishes to reiterate that throughout the protests, it operated in compliance with established rules of engagement, including providing security for peaceful protesters.

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“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, had issued clear directives to all Commissioners of Police on managing the protests, emphasizing 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 damage to property.

“Even then, engagement with armed protesters was limited strictly to specialized 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, 4 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).

“Similarly, in another isolated incident, an unregistered vehicle rammed into protesters, resulting in 2 fatalities. These events, which accounted for a total of 7 recorded deaths during the protests, were not caused by police actions.

“Furthermore, in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and Niger States, some protesters displayed foreign flags, destroyed public and private property, and attacked police personnel deployed to ensure their safety.

“In response to Amnesty International’s allegations, the IGP 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.”

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