Army Debunks Recirculated Amnesty International Report On Giwa Barracks Deaths

The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), “Operation Hadin Kai”  (OPHK), has debunked the recirculation of an old report attributed to Amnesty International alleging the death of detainees, including children, at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri.

A statement issued Sunday evening by the Acting Military Information Officer, OPHK, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the report being shared on social media dates back to 2016 and concerns allegations about detention conditions during the then-Operation Lafiya Dole era.

The OPHK stressed that the report has no connection with events or conditions at the facility in 2026, describing its recirculation without historical context as misleading.

“The attention of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has been drawn to the recirculation of an old report attributed to Amnesty International, alleging the death of detainees, including children, at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri.

“The report, which dates back to 2016, concerns allegations relating to detention conditions during that period and has no connection with events or conditions at the facility in 2026. Its current recirculation, without the appropriate historical context, is therefore misleading and can create the false impression that the reported deaths are recent.

“ For clarity, the Amnesty International report was published in May 2016, and the figures contained therein relate to alleged deaths recorded between January and May of that year. 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.

“In this regard, Headquarters OPHK urges media organisations, online platforms and members of the public to exercise due diligence when reproducing archival reports, particularly those concerning sensitive security and humanitarian matters. Such reports should be accompanied by their original dates and relevant context to ensure that historical allegations are not inadvertently presented as current events or used to generate unnecessary public apprehension.

“Meanwhile, the Joint Investigation Centre at Giwa Barracks continues to operate in accordance with extant Nigerian laws, established procedures and applicable international standards. 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 Centre also maintains engagement with relevant humanitarian and human rights organisations, while access has been granted to national and international media organisations in 2026 to observe its activities and prevailing conditions,” the statement read.

Accordingly, Goni said 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, adding that the Joint Task Force remains focused on the effective discharge of its mandate to restore lasting peace and normalcy across the North East through sustained and professionally conducted operations.

OPHK noted that the issues raised in the 2016 report were comprehensively addressed by the Defence Headquarters at the time, with improvements to the Joint Investigation Centre (JIC) at Giwa Barracks, including enhanced access for humanitarian actors and improved detention standards.

The Theatre Command reaffirmed that Operation Hadin Kai operates in accordance with extant laws, International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, and that the detention facility is managed professionally with due regard for human dignity.

The public was urged to disregard attempts to portray a decade-old report as a current development.

OPHK reassured Nigerians of its commitment to restoring peace in the North East, saying it will continue to conduct its operations with professionalism and respect for human rights.