The Nigerian Democracy Working Group (NDWG) strongly expresses concern over the recent report issued by Amnesty International regarding the tragic incident that led to the killing of five persons in Kano State.
While we condemn the loss of lives and support every legitimate effort aimed at ensuring justice and accountability, we find it disturbing that Amnesty International rushed to classify the incident as politically motivated without what appears to be a fair, balanced, and comprehensive investigation.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Kano Coordinator of NDWG, Saed Adam Mohammed, from available local accounts and realities on the ground, the 5 May 2026 incident was a clash involving rival groups of thugs with a long history of violent rivalry.
At this moment, there is no publicly verified evidence directly linking the Kano State Government or political office holders to the unfortunate incident.
We are particularly concerned by what appears to be Amnesty International’s reliance on viral videos and unverified claims in making sweeping allegations capable of inflaming tensions and misleading the international community about the true situation in Kano State.
It is unfortunate that what appears to be a criminal clash among rival hoodlums is now being framed in a manner capable of creating a damaging impression against Kano State and its leadership.
We also observe with concern what appears to be a disproportionate focus on Kano State by Amnesty International, while several communities across other parts of Nigeria continue to experience serious insecurity, killings, and displacement without attracting similar levels of attention and condemnation.
The continuous branding of violent confrontations in Kano as political thuggery without conclusive evidence risks damaging the reputation of innocent individuals, institutions, and the state as a whole.
It is important to state that the Kano State Government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has continued to demonstrate commitment towards addressing the menace of youth violence and thuggery.
A clear example is the recently approved Safe Corridor rehabilitation program targeted at repentant youths as part of broader efforts to tackle the root causes of violence and social unrest.
We therefore call on Amnesty International to embrace fairness, professionalism, and objectivity in addressing issues concerning Nigeria.
Selective activism and sensational reporting do not strengthen democracy, nor do they contribute positively to peace-building efforts.
The people of Kano will not remain silent while external narratives continue to portray the state negatively through what we consider exaggerated, unbalanced, and insufficiently substantiated allegations.
We urge relevant authorities to conduct transparent investigations into the incident and ensure that all individuals found culpable are brought to justice in accordance with the law.
