Authorities to Investigate Amnesty International's Alleged 'South-East Murder' Accusations
Nigeria Police Initiate Comprehensive Review of Amnesty Report on Human Rights Violations
In response to the August 2025 Amnesty International report, titled "A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South-East Nigeria," the Nigeria Police Force has ordered a meticulous review of the document. The report, which covers the period from January 2021 to June 2023, documents widespread human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and displacement.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed a line-by-line assessment of the report. The police force will cross-reference Amnesty's allegations against their internal operational records, field intelligence, and situation reports from their South-East commands and tactical units.
The review is being conducted in line with the IGP's commitment to transparency, accountability, and operational professionalism. However, the police have expressed skepticism about some of the report's claims, citing previous reports by Amnesty International that have contained inaccuracies and generalizations.
The Nigeria Police Force is enhancing its internal accountability mechanisms, improving training in human rights standards, and deepening institutional reforms in line with global best practices. The Force Spokesperson, DCP Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the review in a statement on Saturday.
The report estimates that at least 1,844 people were killed in South-East Nigeria between January 2021 and June 2023. The perpetrators named in the report include the Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies, IPOB/ESN, state-backed paramilitaries (Ebube Agu), gunmen, vigilantes, cult groups, and other non-state actors.
The Nigerian authorities are under pressure to effectively protect civilians and uphold accountability for these violations. Human rights groups and Amnesty International continue to stress the government's failure in this regard, with the IG’s review seen as a necessary but initial step.
Summary Table:
| Aspect | Details | |-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Amnesty Report Publication | August 2025 | | Period Covered | January 2021 – June 2023 (ongoing violence beyond) | | Death Toll | At least 1,844 killed in South-East Nigeria | | Violations Documented | Extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, displacements | | Perpetrators | Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies, IPOB/ESN, state-backed paramilitaries (Ebube Agu), gunmen, vigilantes, cult groups | | Government Response | Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun ordered a comprehensive internal review of the report | | IG’s Review Focus | Compare allegations with operational and intelligence records; assess accuracy | | Skepticism from Police | Previous Amnesty reports noted to have inaccuracies/generalizations | | Current Status | No independent or publicly released findings yet from IG review; ongoing concern from rights groups |
- The Nigeria Police Force, following the Amnesty International report titled "A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South-East Nigeria," has initiated a comprehensive review to address allegations of human rights violations, including involvement in crime and justice matters.
- As part of the Nigerian government's response to the Amnesty report, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed a thorough examination of the report, hoping to clear any doubts about the accuracy of the allegations and to improve the economy via increased trust in the police force and general news.
- As the Nigeria Police Force delves into the review process, they are working to strengthen their internal accountability mechanisms, particularly in the areas of human rights standards and crime-and-justice issues, in alignment with global best practices and Nigeria's political aspirations.
