IGP Orders Probe Into Amnesty Report on Police Abuses in Southeast

|By Adejumo Adekunle

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered a sweeping investigation into allegations of human rights violations by police officers in the Southeast region, following a damning report by Amnesty International.

The 128-page report, titled “A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South-East Nigeria”, accused the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies of engaging in extrajudicial killings and systemic abuses.

Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Saturday, said the IGP had directed relevant departments and field formations to conduct a line-by-line review of the allegations, cross-checking them with operational records, intelligence, and situation reports from tactical units in the region.

Adejobi stressed that while the police are committed to accountability and rights-based policing, past reports from Amnesty have contained factual inaccuracies and sweeping generalisations. He noted that the ongoing review would be guided strictly by facts and operational evidence.

“At the conclusion of the review, the Force will release a detailed and evidence-based response that reflects our principled approach to constructive criticism and public trust,” Adejobi said.

The IGP, according to him, reaffirmed his commitment to lawful and transparent policing, promising to strengthen internal accountability systems, scale up human rights training, and push forward reforms in line with global best practices.

Adejobi added that the Force remains open to constructive engagement with civil society groups, human rights bodies, international partners, and the National Human Rights Commission, but urged stakeholders to approach such reports with objectivity and context.