The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Police Service Commission, PSC, have been urged to close down the Tiger Base Police Unit, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Imo State Police Command.
The call is coming from the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), following the persistent reports of widespread human rights abuses, including torture, unlawful detention, extortion, and extrajudicial killings perpetrated by operatives of the squad.
The RULAAC’s call reinforces repeated petitions, media investigations, and testimonies from victims and families on the illegal operations of the squad, to which authorities at both the state and federal levels have remained indifferent, fostering a culture of impunity.
Speaking with our correspondent in Owerri, the RULAAC Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, noted that recent findings, supported by victim accounts and verified by RULAAC, reveal shocking patterns of abuse at Tiger Base.
According to him, survivors recount being detained without trial, tortured into forced confessions, extorted for bail, and, in many tragic cases, losing loved ones in police custody without explanation. At the same time, some detainees remain missing, with their whereabouts unknown and the police refusing to disclose information to their families.
Nwanguma said the pattern violates Sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and contravenes the Anti-Torture Act of 2017 and Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights treaties, including the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
He insisted that the continued operation of the unit sends a dangerous signal that police officers can act outside the law without consequence.
He noted that this undermines the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force and risks provoking a resurgence of public protests in the manner of the historic #EndSARS movement.
Nwanguma called on the Nigerian Authorities to immediately shut down the Tiger Base Unit and disband its operatives, as well as launch an independent public inquiry into all allegations of torture, extortion, and extrajudicial killings linked to the unit.
He also demanded the prosecution of all officers found culpable of violating citizens’ rights and the release of all detainees held without charge or arraigned in a court of law.
The group advocated for the compensation of all victims and families affected by the unlawful actions of the police, and the implementation of comprehensive police reforms, including independent oversight and accountability mechanisms to prevent future abuses.
“RULAAC commends the courage of survivors and the families of victims who have come forward despite threats and intimidation. We reaffirm our commitment to continue working with civil society, the media, and human rights institutions to ensure justice, accountability, and the protection of human dignity.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, and relevant authorities to act decisively before the crisis deepens further,” Nwanguma demanded.
