Emotional scenes unfolded in Enugu on Wednesday as Amnesty International and alleged victims detailed harrowing accounts of torture, rape, extortion and prolonged detention without trial at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Owerri, widely known as “Tiger Base”.
Traditional rulers, lawyers, civil society groups and human rights activists from across the South-East were visibly shaken as testimonies were read during the public presentation of an investigative report into the unit, which operates under the Imo State Police Command.
‘Tiger Base of Atrocities’ Report
The report, titled “Tiger Base of Atrocities: Human Rights Violations by Nigeria Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Owerri”, covered investigations carried out between May 2025 and February 2026. It was presented by Amnesty International’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi.
According to Amnesty, the unit was allegedly responsible for arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, excessive bail demands and extortion. The organisation also accused officers of removing children from detained mothers without documentation.
“Tiger Base has become synonymous with police operating outside the law and abusing their power to enrich themselves through extortion,” the report stated. “Those arrested and detained by this unit are subjected to torture and ill-treatment; they never come out intact.”
The report alleged that many detainees were held for weeks or months without being formally charged or brought before a court, enabling indefinite detention. Some were reportedly killed in custody.
Allegations of Torture and Inhumane Conditions
Amnesty said it interviewed 23 individuals, including 14 women who alleged prolonged detention, torture and extortion, as well as two lawyers and two human rights defenders.
Detainees were reportedly subjected to hanging, beatings, waterboarding, prolonged stress positions and starvation. Survivors who spoke at the event described forced confessions signed under duress and severe beatings with iron rods, cables and batons.
One former detainee recounted hearing gunshots after officers removed a fellow inmate from a cell. The detainee was later returned with bullet wounds.
“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.
Another alleged that suspects were pressured to pay money for their release, while Amnesty claimed there was an illegal point-of-sale system within the facility where families withdrew cash to secure relatives’ freedom.
Each of the unit’s four cells, measuring roughly 12 by 12 feet, allegedly held more than 70 detainees at a time. The cells were said to lack windows and adequate sanitation, forcing inmates to eat and sleep in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
Deaths in Custody Alleged
The report cited the cases of Okechukwu Ogbedagu, who allegedly died in custody in 2022 from asphyxiation, and Japhet Njoku, a security guard who reportedly died in detention on May 5, 2025.
Sanusi said Amnesty had formally written to the police on December 1 to share its findings and request a response. On February 6, the police acknowledged the allegations and stated that the Inspector General of Police had ordered a comprehensive audit of the unit, with the outcome to be communicated after completion.
Calls for Independent Investigation
Amnesty argued that the alleged abuses reflect deeper systemic failures within law enforcement, including torture, extrajudicial killings and corruption.
“It appears the police have not learnt any lessons from the #EndSARS protests. Instead of being held accountable, corrupt police officers have been emboldened by the impunity they enjoy,” Sanusi said.
Stakeholders at the event demanded an independent and impartial investigation, prosecution of any officers found culpable, and compensation for victims. They also called for strict compliance with Section 62 of the Police Act, which mandates the release of suspects arrested for non-capital offences within 24 hours.
Some participants urged authorities to shut down the unit pending the outcome of investigations and to retrain officers in line with established rules of engagement.
