IGP Orders Review of Amnesty Report on Police Abuse

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has order a comprehensive institutional review of Amnesty International’s latest report, which accuses the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in the South-East.

The 128-page document, titled “A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South-East Nigeria,” alleges systemic rights abuses by security operatives in the region.

Responding in a statement on Friday by the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, the IGP directs relevant police departments and affected field formations to conduct a meticulous line-by-line assessment of the report.

The review, according to the Force Headquarters, will involve cross-checking the allegations with operational records, intelligence reports, and situation updates from tactical units across the South-East.

While affirming the Force’s commitment to lawful and rights-based policing, Egbetokun stresses the importance of subjecting the report to factual scrutiny.

He notes that previous Amnesty International publications had, at times, contained “factual inaccuracies and sweeping generalisations.”

“The current review will therefore be guided by facts, operational evidence, and a dedication to institutional integrity,”.

The IGP assures that the Nigeria Police Force will issue a detailed, evidence-based response at the conclusion of the review, addressing the allegations raised.

He reaffirmes ongoing efforts to strengthen internal accountability systems, improve human rights training, and pursue reforms in line with global standards.

Egbetokun also emphasises the Force’s openness to constructive engagement with civil society, human rights institutions, international partners, and the National Human Rights Commission, urging stakeholders to approach the subject with “objectivity, accuracy, and a balanced understanding of Nigeria’s complex security realities.”