Human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener Omoyele Sowore has criticized the Nigeria Police Force for harassing Amnesty International over its report on the August 2024 police killings of #EndBadGovernance protesters. Sowore pointed out that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) made similar claims, yet the police have not directed any demands toward them.
Sowore, a former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, described the police’s actions as hypocritical. He argued that if Amnesty International is being pressured to retract its report and apologize, the same should apply to the NHRC.
Amnesty International Report Sparks Controversy
Amnesty International alleged that police officers used live ammunition at close range during the August 2024 protests, resulting in at least 24 deaths in states such as Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, and Niger. The report stated that some victims were shot in the head or torso, while others suffocated from teargas exposure.
“People in Nigeria witnessed unbelievable lawlessness as security personnel fired live ammunition at peaceful protests,” said Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Director. He added that the death toll might exceed 24 due to alleged attempts by authorities to cover up the killings.
Sowore Questions Double Standards
Reacting to reports that the police wrote to Amnesty International demanding a retraction and apology, Sowore took to his social media platforms to question why similar demands were not made to the NHRC.
On X, Sowore wrote, “How about this revelation from the Nigerian government-owned Human Rights Commission @nhrcnigeria stating unequivocally that @PoliceNG murdered 27 protesters during the #EndBadGovernance protest? Why was no letter dispatched to them seeking a retraction and useless apology? Why is @AmnestyNigeria being targeted for exposing the @PoliceNG’s obvious atrocities?”
On Facebook, he added, “Public officials, especially the Nigeria Police Force, commit unspeakable atrocities against citizens transparently, yet have the audacity to ask victims to prove it and even demand compensation from them!”
NHRC’s Findings
Chief Tony Ojukwu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Executive Secretary of the NHRC, revealed in October 2024 that 27 protesters were killed during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests. In an interview with Vanguard Newspaper, Ojukwu disclosed that approximately 800 protesters were also detained without being charged to court, violating their rights.
He detailed the killings:
On August 1, 2024, 12 protesters were killed: one in Abuja, two in Kano, three in Jigawa, and six in Kaduna.
On August 2, four protesters were killed: one in Katsina and three in Yobe.
On August 3, violent attacks by armed thugs in Kano led to the deaths of at least 10 protesters, mostly juveniles.
On August 7, a 16-year-old boy, Isma’il Muhammad, was shot dead by a soldier in Zaria, bringing the total fatalities to 27.
Ojukwu described these incidents as evidence of the Nigerian government’s poor human rights record.
Police Deny Allegations
The Nigeria Police Force has denied the allegations of excessive violence and brutality during the protests, dismissing Amnesty International’s report as misleading and damaging. The police argued that the report undermines public trust and demoralizes their officers.
Despite the denials, Sowore insists that both Amnesty International and the NHRC’s findings point to systemic issues that need urgent redress. He urged the authorities to address the allegations transparently rather than targeting organizations exposing human rights violations.
For more updates, join our WhatsApp channel: Click here.