The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has strongly denied allegations by Amnesty International that police used excessive force, leading to the deaths of 24 citizens during the #EndBadGovernance protests held from August 1 to 10, 2024.
Amnesty International Report: Key Allegations
In its report released last week, Amnesty International alleged:
- 24 deaths, including 20 youths, two children, and one older adult.
- Over 1,200 protesters detained across the country.
Police Response to Amnesty Report
In a statement issued on December 2, 2024, by the Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, Egbetokun refuted the claims, stating:
- Seven deaths, not 24, were recorded during the protests.
- The deaths were attributed to external incidents, not police actions.
“The Nigeria Police Force categorically refutes these allegations as unfounded, misleading, and inconsistent with incident reports submitted by affected commands,” Egbetokun said.
Details of Recorded Incidents
Egbetokun highlighted incidents documented by the police:
- Borno State Tragedy: Four deaths and 34 injuries occurred due to an attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP operatives infiltrating the protests.
- Vehicular Accident: In another instance, an unregistered vehicle rammed into protesters, resulting in two fatalities.
“These events accounted for the total of seven recorded deaths during the protests, none of which were caused by police actions,” he emphasized.
Police Operations During Protests
The police stated their adherence to professional standards during the protests:
- Clear directives were issued to avoid the use of firearms unless protests escalated into violent riots.
- Tear gas was strategically deployed to disperse unruly crowds in affected states, including Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and Niger.
- Arrests were made lawfully, targeting individuals involved in criminal activities such as vandalism, robbery, and arson.
Egbetokun reaffirmed that the use of tear gas is a globally accepted practice and was employed without the use of live ammunition.
Investigations Underway
The Inspector-General has ordered a comprehensive investigation into Amnesty International’s claims. Affected Commissioners of Police have been directed to submit detailed incident reports within a week to ensure accountability and adherence to operational protocols.
Federal Government’s Reconciliation Efforts
Egbetokun also noted that the Federal Government has granted pardon to those arrested during the protests, highlighting its commitment to reconciliation and national unity.
