The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from Amnesty International regarding a publication titled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on End Bad Governance Protests.” The demand was formally communicated via a letter dated January 6, 2025.

The publication in question, which Amnesty International released, includes numerous unsubstantiated claims that accuse the Nigeria Police of human rights violations, police brutality, and excessive violence during the August 2024 End Bad Governance protests. “Upon careful review and investigation, the NPF categorically rejects these baseless allegations, affirming that the claims are entirely false and without foundation,” stated the NPF.

The NPF emphasized that during the protests, the Police acted with restraint and professionalism, even in the face of provocation and violent attacks. “The Police adhered to global best practices and used 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 arrested and dealt with according to law,” the NPF asserted.

The Nigeria Police Force strongly believes that Amnesty International’s misleading publication undermines the trust and confidence it has worked diligently to build with Nigerian citizens and residents. “The Force further underscores that such false claims harm the reputation of the organization and demoralize its officers who risk their lives to protect the public,” emphasized ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer.

In light of these falsehoods, the NPF has demanded that Amnesty International issue a formal retraction and public apology within seven days. “Failure to comply will prompt the NPF to consider legal actions to protect its reputation,” warned ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to its duty of safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians, upholding the law, and earning the trust of the people it serves. “The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to its duty of safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians, upholding the law, and earning the trust of the people it serves,” reiterated ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Two former medical students from Kano State, who were sponsored to study at October 6 University in Egypt, have expressed their frustration over the non-receipt of their certificates five years after completing their degrees. Tajuddin Isah Ibrahim and Muzammil Muhammad, among the 40 students sponsored by the administration of His Excellency Engr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in 2013, have been unable to practice medicine due to the withheld certificates.

Tajuddin Isah Ibrahim shared their plight, stating, “My name is Tajuddin Isah Ibrahim, and I am among the 40 students sponsored by the administration of His Excellency Engr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to study at October 6 University in Egypt in the year 2013. However, I and my colleague Muzammil Muhammad are yet to collect our certificates after completing our medicine degree in the year 2019.”

The students inquired about the reason for withholding their certificates and were informed by the school that the full tuition fees for the two of them had not been received. “The school stated that they have not received the full tuition fees for the two of us, while the rest of our colleagues have been paid their full tuition fees and have collected their certificates. This makes us unable to practice, and we’ve been left stranded since the completion of our studies,” Tajuddin explained.

Despite their efforts to urge the previous government of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to pay the remaining fees, their attempts were unsuccessful. “We did everything possible to urge the previous government of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to pay the remaining fees, but it failed,” Tajuddin lamented.

The students are now appealing to the current administration of His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf to address their situation and facilitate the collection of their certificates. “We are appealing to this Government of His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf to please look into our plight and devise a means to collect our certificates. The knowledge and skills acquired will be of significant value to the health sector of Kano State,” Tajuddin stated.

They also expressed their appreciation for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s efforts in uplifting education and healthcare in Kano State. “We also appreciate His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his effort in uplifting education and healthcare in Kano State,” Tajuddin added.

Despite their continued efforts to resolve the issue, the students have not attained any success and are now considering retaking the JAMB exam to start afresh. “We did everything possible to see our plight resolved by the Government of His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf without attaining any success up to this point that we finally start to think about retaking the JAMB exam and starting afresh,” Tajuddin concluded.

In a decisive step to transform Kano State’s education sector, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has distributed 789,000 school uniforms to pupils in 7,092 public schools across the state’s 44 local government areas.

The initiative, described as a cornerstone of the administration’s strategy to improve access to quality education, was announced in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

According to the statement, the distribution aims to create a dignified and inclusive learning environment for all children in the state.

Speaking at the distribution ceremony, Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his commitment to overhauling Kano’s education system.

“This is just the beginning, after providing these uniforms, we will continue to equip our schools with additional resources to improve learning conditions,” he said.

In addition to the uniforms, the state government has distributed 53,000 desks to schools, addressing infrastructure challenges that have hindered effective teaching and learning for years.

The initiative has been widely lauded as a game-changer for education in Kano, with stakeholders praising its potential to boost school enrollment, enhance retention, and instill a sense of pride and equality among pupils.

Governor Yusuf’s intervention reflects his administration’s resolve to leave no child behind in the pursuit of quality education, marking a new chapter for Kano’s education sector.