#EndBadGovernance: Police fault Amnesty’s report, deny killing three with generades in Borno

The Nigerian Police have rejected Amnesty International’s report alleging that three people were killed by police during the #EndBadGovernance protests at A.A. Kime Filling Station in Borno.

In a statement on Sunday, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, countered the claims, asserting that the three young men were not killed by the police.

Amnesty International’s report had stated that on August 1, 2024, police in a convoy threw a hand grenade into the filling station, killing fuel attendants Nasiru Mustapha (26), Amodu Garba Maina (24), and Momodi Hassan.

Amnesty further detailed the circumstances surrounding their deaths, claiming that the police used grenades and teargas during the protests.

The organisation has said, “In the morning of 1 August 2024 during the #EndBadGovernance protest, Nasiru Mustapha was working with his colleagues at A.A. Kime filling station around Bolori Junction in Maiduguri. A hand grenade was thrown by a police officer in a passing vehicle resulting in the death of Nasiru.

“24-year-old Amodu Garba Maina of Mallam Fatori in Abadam local government area of Borno state – a student of Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri and petrol attendant at A.A Kime filling station Bolori Junction Maiduguri was killed on 1 August 2024 during the #EndBadGovernance protest.

“Amodu’s father told Amnesty International: “Amodu and his colleagues were in the filling station selling fuel. When they noticed the protest was getting serious, they stopped selling the fuel and sat down.

“A convoy of police vehicles when approaching the filling station threw a hand grenade at the filling station and teargas. At once three people died including Amodu.

“On 1 August 2024, Momodu Hassan killed by a hand grenade thrown by the police in a convoy that was passing by A.A Kime filling station at Bolori junction where he was working.”

However, the Nigerian Police maintained that it has never used hand grenades and that the three victims were actually killed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted at the station by unknown persons.

Adejobi also claimed the victims were targeted for not participating in the protests.

He insisted that the claims made by Amnesty International were inconsistent with the police records, adding that all incidents of violence during the protests had been documented by the police.

He also confirmed that an independent investigation into the allegations was ordered by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and findings were submitted for review.

In Borno, the police found evidence of widespread violence, including looting and destruction of property, during the protests. Adejobi stated that Amnesty International’s allegations were false and misleading, aiming to tarnish the reputation of the Nigerian Police Force internationally.

The police further clarified that the explosion that killed the three fuel attendants occurred at A.A. Kime Filling Station on Baga Road, not Bolori Junction as Amnesty reported. The police emphasized that the victims had not participated in the protests and were likely targeted for continuing their work amid the unrest.

The police bomb disposal unit responded to the explosions, recovered evidence, and ensured the injured were hospitalized.

Force Public Relations Officer ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement titled, ‘The Report of Investigation into Amnesty International Claims on August 2024,’ said: “The claims made by Amnesty International in [its] report were at variance with the records available to the Nigeria Police.

“All recorded incidents of violence during the protests were documented by the police in all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“These records are available at both the Department of Operations and the Department of Research and Planning of the Nigeria Police Force.

“It is, therefore, surprising to see in Amnesty International’s report such unfounded claims that contradicted what was actually recorded during the protests.

“Notwithstanding, the Inspector-General of Police, in response to the allegations contained in the report, directed a comprehensive and independent investigation into these claims.

“To this end, a special investigation panel was immediately constituted and given a deadline to submit its findings.

“The IGP also mandated Commissioners of Police in the states mentioned in the report to verify the allegations as they pertain to their states and to submit additional reports on the incidents.

“Following these directives, the Commissioners of Police in the affected states conducted extensive inquiries in their localities and submitted their findings to the Inspector-General of Police. Copies of these findings were sent to the special investigation panel.

“Furthermore, members of the panel visited the affected states and areas mentioned in the report, compiling their findings in a comprehensive document submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.

“This report forms the crux of today’s briefing, where I will present a detailed investigation report addressing the wide-ranging allegations made against the police in Amnesty International’s report.

“In Borno State, it was established that the protesters were violent, engaging in widespread looting, pillaging, and wanton destruction of public and private property.

“For example, the Skill Acquisition Centre of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) was looted and vandalized.

“The warehouse of the World Food Programme, located on Baga/Maimalari Barracks Road, Maiduguri, was also looted, with several items belonging to the international organization destroyed and stolen by some of the protesters.

“Of particular interest is the reported death of three fuel attendants at A. A. Kime Filling Station—Nasiru Mustapha (26), Amodu Garba Maina (24), and Momodi Hassan.

“Amnesty International claimed on pages 22 and 25 of its report that these three individuals died when a hand grenade was thrown into the filling station by a convoy of police vehicles.

“These allegations are not only false and misleading but are also a clear attempt to incite the general public against the police and tarnish the image of the Nigeria Police Force in the eyes of the international community.

“For the record, the Nigeria Police does not possess or utilize explosive hand grenades in its operations.

“Explosive hand grenades have never been purchased, issued, or utilized by the Nigeria Police Force since its establishment as a law enforcement agency.

“How and where Amnesty International obtained such information can only be speculated upon by mischievous minds.

“To set the record straight, the trio of Nasiru Mustapha, Amodu Garba Maina, and Momodu Hassan, all staff of Kime and Sons Filling Station, were killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) fabricated with a safety-free mechanism and planted at the filling station on Baga Road, Maiduguri—not at Bolori Junction as Amnesty International claimed.

“Furthermore, these three young men were not protesting when they met their untimely deaths. In fact, they did not participate in the protests and were believed to have been killed for choosing to ignore the protests and continue with their lawful business.

“It should also be noted that the Nigeria Police, based on credible intelligence, had warned ahead of the protests of terror elements planning to infiltrate the demonstrations.

“The Police Bomb Disposal Unit responded to these explosions, recovered evidence of the improvised explosive devices, and facilitated the evacuation of casualties to the hospital.

“For example, at Deribe Junction, the explosion left three adult males severely injured—Guri Mohammed (24), Isa Hussaini (20), and Ahmed Abdullahi Yusuf (24). At the third location, one Modu Jalo (35) was injured in a residential house in the “Maduganari” area.

“Therefore, the claims by Amnesty International that the Police threw hand grenade from a convoy of vehicles into a Filling Station killing three persons is a blatant falsehood and leaves right thinking members of the society dismayed at this reported falsehood by an international agency which ought to act in accordance with international norms and standard of fair and honest reporting of human rights violations in the country.”