The claim by Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar that Amnesty International was granted access to Giwa barracks detention centre and that it had “accessed the facilities” is completely false.
Amnesty International has repeatedly requested access to the detention centre and it has never been granted.
"Amnesty Intrnationl has neverbeen given access to Giwa barracks."
Amnesty International
The most recent request was made during a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff in February 2016. This was followed up with written requests to the Attorney General, National Security Advisor, Chief of Defense Staff and, most recently, by letter to the Chief of Army Staff on 3 March. No response has been received.
No member of Amnesty International staff has ever been granted access or has been inside the barracks.
Amnesty International remains extremely keen to visit Giwa barracks and would very much welcome an invitation granting our researchers permission to do so.
"The evidence in the Giwa barracks report is incontrovertible."
Amnesty International
Asked whether he will “step up the investigation” into conditions in Giwa barracks, President Buhari told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on 12 May, “We have to do it.”
" 'We have to do it': President Buhari's acknowledgement that Amnesty International's findings must be investigated is welcome."
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is calling on President Buhari to waste no more time before launching an urgent investigation into deaths in detention and to shut down Giwa barracks detention centre without delay.