The Kano State Government has strongly refuted claims made by Amnesty International that five individuals lost their lives during the swearing-in ceremony of Deputy Governor Murtala Sule Garo. In an official statement issued on Wednesday, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, labeled the allegations as misleading, baseless, and malicious.
According to the government, no such incident involving the reported fatalities was documented by any security agency or state official. The statement emphasized that the purported event did not take place within the premises of the Kano Government House, and therefore should not be linked to the official ceremony.
The administration accused certain elements of fabricating the story to damage its reputation. It further criticized Amnesty International for failing to verify the information before publication, noting that the organization relied solely on social media clips without contacting Kano authorities.
Waiya called on the global leadership of Amnesty International to monitor the activities of its Nigerian branch to prevent the spread of disinformation. He reiterated the state’s commitment to transparency and urged the public to disregard the report.
The government also highlighted ongoing efforts to combat youth violence, including the Safe Corridor Kano Model program, which has profiled over 2,030 repentant youths for rehabilitation. The state has approved more than ₦600 million for the first phase of the initiative, targeting 1,000 beneficiaries.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration reaffirmed its dedication to protecting lives and property through collaboration with security agencies and called for continued public support in maintaining peace.