The Nigeria Police Force has refuted a recent report publicized by Amnesty International, which claims that thirteen individuals have lost their lives due to the protests in Nigeria that began on 1st August 2024. Amnesty International further alleged that security personnel deliberately employed tactics designed to kill while managing gatherings and used firearms as a tactical tool for protest management.

The Police in a statement made available to Security Correspondent on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in Abuja through which the Amnesty International Report was debunked. According to the statement, in Borno State, four individuals lost their lives and thirty-four were severely injured in a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements, who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Additionally, the Police said an incident occurred involving an unregistered Honda Prelude car that ran into the protesters, resulting in the deaths of two 2 civilians adding that, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. It stated further that, another incident reported in Yauri, in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where a group of individuals mobilized to loot a shop and in the process, a local vigilante man shot and killed one of the looters.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of Kebbi State, according to the police is currently investigating the incident. The Nigeria Police Force said this made the total number of deaths recorded during the protests to seven. However, the Force said incidences of armed robbery, arson, mischief, looting of public institutions and private businesses, destructions of both public and private property were recorded during the protest. It said arrests were made with respect to these criminal incidences and a number of recoveries made from the suspects while the protest was going on.