The Nigeria Police Force has been slammed by many Nigerians after it demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from Amnesty International regarding a publication titled "Bloody August: Nigeria Government's Violent Crackdown on and Bad Governance Protests."

In a letter dated January 6, 2025, the police said the publication includes numerous unsubstantiated claims and falsely accuses the force of human rights violations, police brutality, and excessive violence during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests.

In a statement on Tuesday, Force Spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the force categorically rejected the "baseless allegations" after careful review and investigation.

"The NPF emphasizes that during the protests, the Police acted with restraint and professionalism, even at the highest point of provocation and violent attacks, adhering to global best practices and using minimal force where necessary. Evidence, including national media coverage, demonstrates the Police's efforts to maintain law and order while safeguarding peaceful protesters. Criminal elements attempting to exploit the protests were however arrested and dealt with according to law," he said.

Adejobi said the force strongly believes that "this misleading publication undermines the trust and confidence it has worked diligently to build with Nigerian citizens and residents."

He lamented that such false claims harm the reputation of the organization and demoralize its officers who risk their lives to protect the public.

"In light of these falsehoods, the NPF has demanded that Amnesty International issues a formal retraction and public apology within seven days. Failure to comply will prompt the NPF to consider legal actions to protect its reputation," he said.

Reacting, the Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) described the letter as harassment and threat to Amnesty International.

In a terse statement, SERAP urged "President Tinubu to direct the police to immediately end their harassment and threat against Amnesty International in Nigeria solely for defending the rights of Nigerians. The threat shows an escalating crackdown on civic space in the country."

In his remarks, former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who led the #EndBadGovernance protest, said the letter shows that "Nigeria is a country of anomie."

He said on X, "Public officials, especially the Nigeria Police Force, will commit unspeakable atrocities against citizens -most transparently-but still dare to ask the victims to prove it happened. Then, they also demand compensation from their victims! I mean who did see what @policeng did to citizens during #Endbadgovernance last year, so many of these atrocities including against journalists going about their lawfully duties were even captured on tape."

Renowned journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, mocked the letter to Amnesty International.

He said, "The police threatening to sue
@AmnestyNigeria 'to protect its reputation?' 2025 is still new but this has got to be the hugest joke of the year already. @PoliceNG, I was going to say your reputation is in tatters, but you actually have no reputation. There is absolutely no reputation to protect!"

The #EndBadGovernance protest was carried out mostly by youths to draw the attention of the government to the hunger in the land as a result of economic challenges.