FG Fires Back At Amnesty International: ‘Your Allegations Of Killings Are Misleading

The Federal Government has refuted a recent report by Amnesty International Nigeria, which alleged that over 10,000 Nigerians have been killed in the past two years. According to the government, the report is inaccurate, misleading, and risks amplifying the perceived scale of criminal activity in the country.

This position was communicated through a statement released on Wednesday by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Signed by the NCTC-ONSA Coordinator, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, the statement highlighted discrepancies in the figures and claims presented by Amnesty International, describing them as inconsistent with the verified data held by the Centre.

In a letter dated May 28 and addressed to the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Maj Gen Laka urged the organization to suspend the report’s publication, citing concerns over misinformation and its potential to distort public perception.

“The report, as currently framed, paints an exaggerated and alarmist picture that misrepresents the situation on the ground. It threatens to mislead the public, tarnish Nigeria’s international reputation, and may inadvertently embolden terrorist and criminal groups by overstating the impact of their actions,” the letter stated.

The NCTC also invited Amnesty International Nigeria to a consultative meeting aimed at reviewing the report’s content, reconciling data discrepancies, and discussing the government’s ongoing security initiatives and the challenges encountered in protecting lives and property.

“In the spirit of collaboration and transparency, we look forward to engaging with Amnesty International to ensure that any report published reflects the true state of affairs and supports efforts to combat insecurity,” the statement concluded.