The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), has dismissed the recent circulation of an old Amnesty International report on Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, saying the publication relates to events that occurred in 2016 and should not be presented as a current development.
The military said the report, originally released by Amnesty International in May 2016, contained allegations of deaths among detainees, including children, between January and May of that year. It stressed that the report has no connection with the present conditions at the detention facility in 2026.
According to OPHK, presenting the decade-old report without its historical context creates a false impression that the alleged incidents are recent.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, the task force urged journalists, online publishers and members of the public to verify the dates and context of security-related reports before sharing them.
“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,” the statement said.
The military appealed to media organisations to exercise greater caution when reproducing archived reports, especially those involving security and humanitarian issues.
It said historical reports should always carry their original publication dates and necessary background information to prevent them from being mistaken for current events.
“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,” OPHK stated.
The Joint Task Force also gave an update on activities at the Joint Investigation Centre located inside Giwa Barracks.
According to the statement, the centre currently operates in line with Nigerian laws, established procedures and applicable international standards governing the treatment of detainees.
It explained that attention is being given to detainees’ welfare through access to healthcare, rehabilitation programmes, vocational and skills acquisition training, as well as Western and Islamic education.
The military added that the facility maintains engagement with humanitarian and human rights organisations and has also granted access to both national and international media organisations in 2026 to observe its operations and conditions.
The task force reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, lawful conduct and the continuous improvement of detainee welfare while carrying out its mandate of restoring peace across the North-East.
“Accordingly, 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. 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,” the statement added.
Operation Hadin Kai further advised the public to always verify the source, date and context of reports relating to security matters before accepting or sharing them.
The military also called on media organisations to uphold responsible journalism by clearly distinguishing historical reports from current developments to avoid misinformation and unnecessary public anxiety.
Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri has been used as a military detention and investigation facility during Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the North-East. Over the years, the facility has attracted local and international attention, including reports by human rights organisations. Operation Hadin Kai said the current recirculation of the 2016 Amnesty International report without indicating its original publication date misrepresents the present situation and risks misleading the public.
