A youth-led advocacy group, Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), has called for the immediate suspension of Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, following allegations of intimidation against global human rights organization, Amnesty International. The demand arises after Amnesty published a report detailing police misconduct during the August 2024 nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
The report, titled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests,” claims that at least 24 peaceful protesters were killed by police officers. This sparked backlash from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), which dismissed the findings as “baseless, false, and misleading.” The NPF also demanded a retraction and public apology from Amnesty International, a move the YRC describes as “bullying.”
In a statement issued Wednesday, YRC National Secretary Francis Nwapa condemned the police response. “The Nigeria Police Force has no moral authority to dismiss Amnesty’s findings. Only an independent, democratically constituted panel of inquiry can determine the truth,” Nwapa said. He criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to establish such a panel, suggesting it reflects a lack of accountability for police actions.
The YRC also pointed out that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) corroborated Amnesty’s report. In October 2024, NHRC Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu SAN confirmed that at least 27 protesters were killed during the protests, reinforcing claims of police brutality.
YRC’s Demands
The group has called for:
1. The suspension of IGP Kayode Egbetokun to enable an impartial investigation.
2. The establishment of an independent probe panel involving civil society organizations, professional bodies like the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and youth representatives.
3. Prosecution of police and security personnel responsible for extrajudicial killings.
4. Immediate release of detained protesters and withdrawal of charges against them.
5. Compensation for victims of police brutality and their families.
Nwapa added, “You cannot kill innocent protesters and intimidate those who expose these atrocities. Accountability and justice are non-negotiable.”
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which began as peaceful demonstrations, highlighted long-standing grievances against poor governance and police brutality in Nigeria. The YRC, alongside Amnesty International and other advocacy groups, continues to demand systemic reforms to prevent future abuses.
The police’s demand for a public apology from Amnesty International has sparked widespread criticism from activists and citizens, who view it as an attempt to silence accountability. As the debate over police accountability deepens, the call for justice remains central to Nigeria’s ongoing struggle for democratic rights.
The #EndBadGovernance protests were triggered by widespread dissatisfaction with governance and security challenges in Nigeria. Demonstrators called for reforms, but the protests were met with violent crackdowns, drawing global condemnation.
As the nation awaits further developments, the spotlight remains on the Nigerian government and its response to growing demands for justice and accountability.
