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Amnesty International (AI) has released a report highlighting the alleged atrocities committed by officers of the anti-kidnapping unit of the Imo police command, popularly known as Tiger Base.
The report was launched on Wednesday in Enugu state.
Tiger Base was set up to investigate and combat kidnapping-related crimes. However, Amnesty said the unit deviated from its core mandate and is now notorious for systemic abuse.
In the report, AI listed instances of the alleged atrocities committed by the unit, including prolonged arbitrary detention without trial, family and lawyers denied access to detainees, extortion and extortion-driven investigation, enforced disappearances, and torture.
The organisation said between May 2025 and February 2026, it conducted three research missions to Owerri and interviewed 19 survivors and relatives of victims of human rights violations perpetrated by officers of Tiger Base.
Amnesty stated that most detainees at the base are held for several weeks, months or years without being charged to court.
A detainee identified as Ugbala was detained for 809 days by the Tiger Base police unit.
A woman, whose name was not stated in the report, was detained for 399 days by the police unit.
Another survivor of prolonged arbitrary detention identified as Ndukwe said he was detained by the police unit over claims that he bought 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,” Ndukwe said.
“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.”
The organisation said its findings also reveal that detainees at Tiger Base are denied access to their lawyers and families, leaving those in custody isolated.
The report also detailed how officers of Tiger Base extort detainees’ family members, “who are desperate to secure their release from the appalling conditions in the detention cell”.
A survivor, who spent more than two years in custody, narrated how his family paid over N30 million to Tiger Base police officers.
“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 said.
TORTURE AND DEATH IN DETENTION
The report relayed that the unit subjects detainees to acts of torture and other ill-treatment to extract confessions from them.
Despite the prohibition of torture under Nigerian and international laws, victims are often tied with ropes, hung, cut, and left with untreated wounds at the base, the report stated.
“The testimonies from survivors of Tiger Base detention reveal a consistent pattern of torture, degrading treatment, and sexual abuse. Survivors described being repeatedly beaten with sticks, machetes, belts, wires, pistols, and pieces of wood, leaving visible wounds and long‑lasting pain,” an excerpt of the report reads.
“Women reported injuries that worsened over time, including deteriorating eyesight, as well as incidents of sexual coercion by officers who abused their authority.
“The accounts portray a detention environment marked by violence, humiliation, and a complete disregard for the rights and dignity of detainees.”.
The report also shared that women detainees are compelled to engage in hard labour for months under threats and coercion.
Survivors narrated how they were used as labourers for over two months during the construction of a new building at the Tiger Base office.
In the report, Amnesty said the police unit is also notorious for death of suspects in custody.
The organisation said in 2022, three youth leaders handed over a suspect to the Tiger Base unit and about three months later, the suspect, Okechukwu Ogbedagu, died in detention.
“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,” a survivor said.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The organisation asked Nigerian authorities to promptly investigate allegations of human rights violations against Tiger Base operatives.
The organisation asked police authorities to open up Tiger Base facilities for inspection and monitoring by relevant agencies.
“Call on the Imo state Government to amend sections 484, 485, and 226 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Imo State, 2020, to ensure compliance with the Constitution by making it clear that detention by the Governor without court approval cannot exceed 24–48 hours and that any extension beyond this period must be authorized by a competent court, thereby protecting the rights of detainees and ensuring accountability in the criminal justice system,” the organisation said.
“Call on the police to cooperate with NGOS and other human rights actors, including by ensuring that they effectively address allegations of human rights violations and police misconduct reported y NGOS and bring suspected perpetrators to justice.”
