#EndBadGovernance protest killing: RULAAC urges NHRC, National Assembly to probe Amnesty International’s allegations against police

Stanley Ihedigbo

Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has called on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Assembly to investigate the allegations of killing made by Amnesty International against the Nigeria Police Force during the #EndBadGovernance protest in August across Nigeria.

According to RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, an independent investigation is necessary to uncover the truth, as the police’s rebuttal of Amnesty International’s report is not enough.

Nwanguma emphasized that the police’s response to the allegations is interesting, but it raises more questions than answers.

He noted that the police claimed to have evidence that contradicted Amnesty International’s report, but they did not disclose this evidence for independent verification.

RULAAC is urging the NHRC and the National Assembly to conduct thorough, impartial, and credible investigations to ascertain the truth and make appropriate recommendations.

“This call for an independent investigation is necessary to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible for human rights abuses are held accountable.

The Human Rights Activist noted that the Police Force held a press briefing on 22 December 2024 to rebut a report by Amnesty International alleging police killings during the #EndBadGovernance protest in August across Nigeria.

“We wish that the Nigeria Police would always respond in this way to all allegations of human rights violations leveled against them. Would they also respond to the unresolved organ harvesting allegations against some police officers of the Anambra State RRS (formerly SARS Awkuzu) into which the Inspector-General of Police had also ordered an investigation?

“In all cases where the police dispute reports and allegations of violations against them by any organization, it would require an independent body to review the reports and allegations against the police and the police’s response to the allegations to arrive at the truth.

He further said that since the police have exercised their right to rebut Amnesty International’s claims against their operatives, the option would not be to accept hook, line, and sinker, the police’s contrary claims.

“For example, the police, in their rebuttal, referred to ‘evidence’ that they have, which contradicts AI’s claims, but they did not disclose the ‘evidence’ for an independent assessment and verification,” he stated.