Amnesty International has called on the Inspector General of Police and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to urgently investigate and prosecute officers allegedly involved in torture, unlawful killings, and extortion at the anti-kidnapping unit popularly known as “Tiger Base” in Imo State.

In a report detailing alleged abuses at the facility operated under the Imo State Police Command in Owerri, the organisation said the unit has become synonymous with impunity and systemic violations of human rights.

The investigation, titled “Tiger Base of Atrocities: Human Rights Violations by Nigeria Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Owerri”, was launched in Enugu on Wednesday. It is alleged that the squad has deviated from its mandate and now engages in unlawful arrests, prolonged arbitrary detention, torture, extortion, and extrajudicial violence.

Amnesty International urged the police hierarchy to institute an independent and impartial probe into the activities of the unit, including scrutiny of its commander, and to ensure that officers found culpable are brought to justice.

According to the report, detainees are routinely held without formal statements or arraignment in court, enabling indefinite detention in violation of constitutional safeguards.

Many arrests, the organization alleged, are carried out not strictly for criminal investigations but to settle personal disputes or extort money from suspects’ families.

Amnesty International’s Country Director for Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said the situation reflects a disturbing pattern of abuse and lack of accountability.

“Tiger Base has become synonymous with police operating outside of the law and abusing their power to enrich themselves through extortion,” Sanusi said.

“Those arrested and detained by this unit are subjected to torture and ill-treatment; they never come out intact. Despite the horrific viol’tions they have suffered, there has been no accountability to date,” he added.

Former detainees reportedly described being forced to sign incriminating statements under torture, including beatings with iron rods, batons, machetes, and cables, as well as suspension and other degrading treatment.

The report further alleged that coerced confessions are used as leverage to demand bribes before granting bail, with claims of an illegal point-of-sale (POS) operation within the facility to facilitate payments by families.

One survivor recounted alleged extrajudicial violence within the detention facility. “The other guy took him out; we heard gunshots. We thought they had killed him, but after some hours he came back with bullet wounds. Nobody cared,” he said.

The detention conditions were described as inhumane, with cells measuring about 12 by 12 feet allegedly holding more than 70 detainees each, lacking ventilation and adequate sanitary facilities.

Amnesty International also documented alleged deaths in custody, including Okechukwu Ogbedagu in 2022 and Japhet Njoku in 2025, raising concerns over oversight and transparency.

Citing Section 62 of the Police Act, the organization stressed that suspects arrested for non-capital offences must be released within 24 hours, with or without surety, and reminded authorities of their constitutional and international obligations.

Amnesty International maintained that a transparent investigation and prosecution of any officer found culpable would be a crucial step toward restoring public confidence and reaffirming the duty of the Nigeria Police Force to uphold the rule of law.

According to the group, copies of the report were sent to the police hierarchy in Abuja in December 2025, before the launch. They received a response In February 2026 stating that the police would investigate the allegations. (The Nation)

Update news