Counter-Terrorism Centre Refutes Amnesty Report on Nigerian Death Toll

Summary

• NCTC-ONSA dismisses Amnesty International’s claim of 10,000 deaths as “inaccurate and misleading.”
• Centre urges Amnesty to withhold the report pending a joint review of data and security context.
• Invitation extended to Amnesty for a consultative meeting to reconcile discrepancies.

Abuja, Nigeria — The National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC–ONSA) has refuted a recent report by Amnesty International Nigeria, which claimed that over 10,000 Nigerians were killed in the past two years.

In a strongly worded letter dated May 28 and signed by Maj Gen Adamu Garba Laka, the Coordinator of the Centre, the NCTC described the report as “misleading” and inconsistent with verified national data.

“The report, in its current form, presents an overly alarming narrative which does not reflect the broader realities on the ground,” the letter stated.

The Centre expressed concern that such misrepresentation could harm the country’s image, misinform the public, and potentially embolden terrorist elements by overstating the impact of their activities.

As a step toward resolving the issue, the NCTC-ONSA has invited Amnesty International Nigeria to a consultative meeting. The aim, according to Maj Gen Laka, is to “review the contents of the report, reconcile discrepancies, and discuss ongoing security efforts and challenges.”

The Centre acknowledged the important role of civil society organisations in highlighting human rights issues but stressed that such efforts must be grounded in accuracy and a full understanding of Nigeria’s complex security landscape. It has therefore called on Amnesty International to withhold the publication of the report until both parties can engage constructively.