#EndBadGovernance Protests: Police Deny Wrongdoing, Refute Amnesty Report

The police have concluded their investigation into the #EndBadGovernance protests, claiming that officers did not kill anyone during the demonstrations and acted professionally.

The investigation, ordered by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, also exonerated the officers of any wrongdoing.

In the statement issued by the Nigeria Police Force on Sunday via Facebook, the police disagreed with a 33-page report by Amnesty International, which stated that 24 people were killed during the protests in August, driven by hunger and anger.

The police stated that the claims made by Amnesty International in its report did not match the records they possessed. The police said that all incidents of violence during the protests were documented across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

These records are available in the Nigeria Police Force's Department of Operations and Department of Research and Planning. The police expressed surprise that Amnesty's report contradicted their own records.

In response to the allegations, the Inspector-General of Police ordered an independent investigation. A special investigation panel was formed and given a deadline to submit its findings.

The commissioners of police in the affected states were also tasked with verifying the allegations and submitting additional reports. Following these directives, the commissioners conducted local inquiries and submitted their findings, which were sent to the special investigation panel.

Panel members visited the affected areas, compiled their findings, and submitted them to the Inspector-General of Police. This report was being presented as part of the briefing addressing the allegations in Amnesty's report, as per the statement.

Amnesty International reported that 12 people were killed in Kano, three each in Borno, Jigawa, and Niger. The group also noted that two people were killed in Kaduna and one in Katsina.

Among those killed were three women, including a woman named Nana Firdausi, who was allegedly killed by a police officer known as "Jarumin Maza." Two minors were also among the victims. In Borno, three people died in an IED attack.

Amnesty International said they spoke to the parent of one of the deceased, Amodu, who, along with two others, was killed at a petrol station where they worked as fuel attendants.

The police disagreed with this, noting that the victims were killed by terrorists who had infiltrated the protest. The police spokesperson also clarified that the force does not have or use explosive hand grenades in its operations.