The Northern Youth Assembly has criticised Amnesty International over its recent report concerning the alleged killing of five persons in Kano State, accusing the organisation of bias, selective outrage, and attempting to tarnish the image of the state.
In a statement jointly signed by the President of the assembly, Mohammed Ali Idris, and the Secretary General, Hafiz Garba, the group described Amnesty International’s report as “reckless, unbalanced, and politically coloured.”
The assembly alleged that the organisation rushed to label the incident as politically motivated without conducting what it termed a fair and comprehensive investigation. It further accused Amnesty International of concentrating excessively on Kano State while allegedly paying limited attention to insecurity and violent incidents occurring in other parts of the country.
According to the group, several communities across Nigeria continue to face serious security challenges leading to deaths and displacement, yet such incidents do not always attract the same level of international attention directed at Kano.
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The Northern Youth Assembly maintained that the clash which occurred on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, involved rival groups of thugs with a history of violent confrontation, insisting that there was no evidence linking the Kano State Government or political actors to the incident.
The group also faulted Amnesty International for allegedly relying on viral videos and unverified claims to make accusations against APC stakeholders and government officials in the state, warning that such narratives could escalate tension and mislead the international community.
“It is unfortunate that Amnesty International has chosen to politicise what appears to be a criminal clash among hoodlums in order to create a false impression against Kano State and its leadership,” the statement said.
The assembly further accused the organisation of operating double standards by amplifying incidents in Kano while allegedly overlooking similar security concerns in other states.
While calling on Amnesty International to embrace fairness, professionalism, and objectivity in its reporting, the group urged the organisation to avoid what it described as selective activism and sensational narratives capable of damaging the reputation of individuals and institutions.
The Northern Youth Assembly reiterated that the people of Kano would continue to reject what it termed unfounded and exaggerated allegations capable of portraying the state negatively before the international community.