Owerri, Nigeria — The Imo State Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit, commonly referred to as Tiger Base, has come under severe scrutiny for allegations of human rights violations and unchecked abuses. Families of victims, legal experts, and human rights monitors assert that the facility operates more like a clandestine site for torture than a legitimate law enforcement agency.
A report by the Coalition Against Tiger Base Police Impunity (CAPTI) reveals harrowing accounts from survivors and families, highlighting systematic torture and unlawful detentions. The documentation cites 42 individuals who suffered abuses, and at least 200 deaths in custody between 2021 and December 2025, with officers implicated in these incidents facing no repercussions.
“This isn’t simply a case of dysfunction; it represents calculated impunity,” the report charges. One alarming case involves Japhet Njoku, a 32-year-old security guard who was detained in March 2025 under dubious claims. After enduring torture for nearly two months, he died in custody, with his family learning of his passing only through another detainee after the fact.
Attempts to seek justice for Njoku through the Coroner’s Court were met with stonewalling by involved officers, who refused to appear for testimony. In a disturbing twist, the commander of the unit, ACP Oladimeji Adeyeyiwa, was later promoted for his performance in combating crime.
Another chilling account centers on Magnus Ejiogu, detained without charges on September 23, 2025. Following his death in custody, authorities attributed it to “sudden illness,” denying any independent scrutiny or investigation. Eyewitness accounts describe a climate of terror within the unit, with some former detainees alleging executions were an almost nightly occurrence.
Pastor Chinedu Nwachukwu Egole, a spiritual leader among detainees, faced a similar fate. Selected for execution in June 2021, his family was never notified of his death, exemplifying the grim reality many families endure. The report underscores that women and children are disproportionately affected, as evidenced by the harrowing stories of Melody Eberechi Anyanwu, who lost her pregnancy during interrogation, and Chinaza Ifeanyi, whose infant son has been missing since her husband’s alleged extrajudicial execution.
The injustices extend beyond individual cases, as documented abuses include the arrest of Reverend Cletus Nwachukwu Egole and his family during a police raid. Despite the family’s torment, including prolonged incommunicado detention and the unexplained disappearance of several family members, authorities failed to hold any parties accountable.
The scale of violations documented in the CAPTI report raises alarming questions about police accountability in Nigeria. Instances of disobedience to judicial orders are rampant, with Coroner’s Court directives and National Human Rights Commission interventions routinely overlooked.
CAPTI highlights that at least six officers, including the unit commander, have been named in numerous abuses yet continue to serve without facing suspension or investigation. The report concludes with stark numbers: 42 named victims, more than 200 deaths in custody, and a grim echo of tormented families left without answers.
Human rights advocates express deep concern about the collapse of police accountability, noting that survivors and families continue to seek justice amid a culture of fear and impunity. As one survivor poignantly remarked, “Once you enter Tiger Base, the law ceases to exist.”
In response to the allegations, Imo State Police Command spokesperson Henry Okoye has vehemently denied the claims and called for victims to come forward with evidence against officers. A police unit has been established to investigate these serious allegations.