A leading rights group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has raised serious concerns over alleged police involvement in a volatile family dispute in Imo State, describing the incident as a possible abuse of authority and a breach of constitutional safeguards.
The group said it obtained a petition submitted to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 9 Headquarters in Umuahia, by Jesmond Okonkwo Esq., Solicitors & Legal Consultants, detailing tensions within the family of the late Mr. Vitus Ugbaja.
According to the petition, the dispute stems from burial arrangements and alleged inheritance disagreements following Ugbaja’s death in July 2025 in Kafanchan, Kaduna State. The burial had been scheduled for March 21 and 22, 2026, but disagreements reportedly escalated between the widow and other family members.
HURIWA expressed alarm over what it described as a dramatic escalation of the situation in the early hours of Wednesday, involving alleged police action linked to the dispute.
The group claimed that at about 3am, the widow of the deceased allegedly arrived with armed police officers reportedly drawn from the Criminal Investigation Department in Owerri, who then stormed the residence of the late man’s family.
It further alleged that the officers took away the deceased’s brothers in what it described as a forceful and intimidating operation, which it said resembled a “Gestapo-style” raid.
The rights organisation also raised concerns that the Assistant Inspector General overseeing Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi States was already aware of the matter before the incident, questioning the legality and chain of command behind the alleged deployment.
HURIWA said the situation, if confirmed, points to a troubling misuse of police authority in a civil family dispute involving burial rites and property disagreements.
The group warned that such actions could undermine public trust in law enforcement and weaken the perception of police neutrality in sensitive civil matters.
It added that any use of state security agencies to intervene in private disputes must strictly follow legal procedures, stressing that arbitrary arrests or intimidation tactics violate constitutional protections.
HURIWA has called for a thorough investigation into the incident, urging the police leadership to clarify the circumstances surrounding the alleged operation and ensure accountability if wrongdoing is established.
