OPHK Clarifies 2016 Amnesty Report on Alleged Giwa Barracks Deaths
The Headquarters Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), has cautioned the media and members of the public against recirculating a 2016 Amnesty International report on alleged deaths of detainees at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, as though it were a recent development.
OPHK, in a statement issued on Sunday by its Acting Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said the report being circulated on social media and other platforms was published in May 2016 and concerned alleged deaths recorded between January and May of that year.
The task force said the report had no connection with events or conditions at the detention facility in 2026, warning that its recirculation without the appropriate historical context could create a false impression that the reported deaths occurred recently.
“While the report represents Amnesty International’s account of events at the time, its contents should not be presented as a current development, fact, or used to characterise the prevailing situation at the facility a decade later,” OPHK said.
The clarification followed the renewed circulation of the decade-old report, which contained allegations concerning detention conditions and the deaths of detainees, including children, at Giwa Barracks.
According to the task force, media organisations, online platforms and members of the public should exercise due diligence when reproducing archival materials, particularly reports relating to sensitive security and humanitarian issues.
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It urged those sharing such reports to retain their original publication dates and provide sufficient historical context to prevent past allegations from being inadvertently presented as current events.
OPHK said the Joint Investigation Centre at Giwa Barracks currently operates in accordance with Nigerian laws, established procedures and applicable international standards.
It added that the centre places emphasis on the welfare, lawful treatment and rehabilitation of detainees, including access to necessary care, skills acquisition and vocational training, as well as Western and Islamic education.
The task force further said the centre maintains engagements with relevant humanitarian and human rights organisations, while national and international media organisations had been granted access in 2026 to observe its activities and prevailing conditions.
“OPHK reiterates its commitment to professional conduct, respect for applicable laws and standards, and the continuous improvement of the management and welfare of persons in its custody,” the statement said.
The task force maintained that it remained focused on fulfilling its mandate of restoring lasting peace and normalcy across the North-East through sustained and professionally conducted operations.
It also urged members of the public to verify the date, source and context of security-related reports before accepting or sharing them, particularly materials concerning events from previous years.
The military authority called on media organisations to uphold responsible and accurate reporting by clearly distinguishing archival reports from current developments in the North-East.
By PRNigeria
