Amnesty International has released a damning report detailing horrific allegations of human rights abuses, including torture, extortion, and extrajudicial executions, carried out by officers of “Tiger Base,” the anti-kidnapping unit of the Imo State Police Command.
The report, which was launched on Wednesday in Enugu State, states that the unit, originally established to combat kidnapping-related crimes, has severely deviated from its core mandate and is now notorious for widespread and systemic abuses.
Amnesty International listed numerous atrocities allegedly committed by Tiger Base operatives, highlighting prolonged arbitrary detentions without trial, denial of access to lawyers and families, enforced disappearances, and extortion-driven investigations.
Between May 2025 and February 2026, the human rights organization conducted three research missions to Owerri, interviewing 19 survivors and relatives of victims.
According to the findings, most detainees at the facility are held for weeks, months, or even years without being formally charged in court.
The report cited severe cases of arbitrary detention, including a man identified as Ugbala, who was held for 809 days, and an unnamed woman detained for 399 days. Another survivor, Ndukwe, recounted being locked up over allegations of buying stolen items.
“They arrested me, insisting I bought stolen items. I told them I didn’t know anything about it. They locked me up and seized my phone.
“After about three weeks, a police officer came to take my statement. Still, they kept me locked up. Later, they said the complainant claimed her loss was worth ₦14 million but agreed to collect ₦4.5 million instead. They told me if I wanted to be released, my family would have to pay,” Ndukwe said.
The findings further reveal that detainees’ desperate family members are frequently extorted by operatives. One survivor, who spent more than two years in custody, recounted how his family was forced to pay over ₦30 million to secure his release.
“My brother-in-law, who lives abroad, sent the money in several instalments, but they kept asking for more. Yet, I was held for 2 years, 2 months, and 8 days,” the survivor lamented.
The report documented severe accounts of torture and degrading treatment used to extract confessions. Victims reported being tied with ropes, hung, cut, and beaten with sticks, machetes, belts, wires, pistols, and pieces of wood, often leaving them with untreated wounds and long-lasting pain. Women detainees also reported incidents of sexual coercion and being subjected to months of forced hard labor under threats.
“The accounts portray a detention environment marked by violence, humiliation, and a complete disregard for the rights and dignity of detainees,” an excerpt from the report reads.
Amnesty also highlighted the unit’s notoriety for suspect deaths in custody. The organization noted the case of Okechukwu Ogbedagu, a suspect who died in detention about three months after being handed over to Tiger Base by three youth leaders in 2022.
Another chilling testimony from a survivor read: “I witnessed close to 30 people dying. It happens almost every day. Some died from sickness, hunger, or beatings. Many were innocent or young men picked up randomly. I don’t know whether they buried them or dumped their corpses somewhere.”
Following the disturbing revelations, Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to promptly investigate the allegations against Tiger Base operatives and to open up the unit’s facilities for inspection and monitoring by relevant agencies.
The organization also urged the Imo State Government to amend sections of its Administration of Criminal Justice Law to ensure that detention without court approval cannot exceed 24 to 48 hours. Furthermore, Amnesty called on the police to cooperate with non-governmental organizations and human rights actors to effectively address police misconduct and bring suspected perpetrators to justice.
