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The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force, raising concerns over “deeply disturbing allegations” involving the treatment of detainees at the Imo State Police Command.
In a press statement issued on April 17 and signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, the organisation said the allegations stem from activities at the facility commonly known as “Tiger Base (Anti-Kidnapping Unit)” in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
RULAAC stated that, “according to credible reports received, detainees were allegedly removed from police detention cells on 16 and 17 April 2026 and assembled at the Magistrate Court premises in Owerri,” where they were “held for extended hours without food, water, or access to basic necessities.”
The group added that “these actions are alleged to have occurred in connection with anticipated inspection visits to the facility.”
The organisation further alleged that “such relocations may form part of a recurring pattern aimed at concealing actual detention conditions during oversight visits,” noting that detainees are “returned to original custody conditions after inspections are concluded.”
RULAAC warned that the allegations, “if verified,” would raise serious concerns about “compliance with constitutional safeguards on the dignity of the human person,” “adherence to international standards on detention and humane treatment,” and “the integrity of oversight and inspection mechanisms within law enforcement institutions.”
While acknowledging that the Imo State Police Command had issued a public statement confirming “a recent unscheduled visit by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police” and affirming its commitment to human rights compliance, the group said “key questions remain unanswered regarding detainee location, custody records, and verification of physical presence during inspections.”
The organisation called for “an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation into these allegations,” including “a full audit of custody records, detainee movement logs, and conditions of detention during the relevant period.”
It also urged authorities to ensure “independent interviews with detainees without police presence,” as well as the “inclusion of the National Human Rights Commission and the Nigerian Bar Association in any investigative process.”
Additionally, RULAAC called for “immediate safeguards against intimidation or retaliation against detainees, whistleblowers, or complainants.”
“The credibility of policing and oversight in Nigeria depends not only on statements of compliance, but on demonstrable transparency and accountability in practice,” the statement read, warning that “allegations of staged inspections and concealed detention conditions, if left unaddressed, risk further eroding public trust in law enforcement institutions.”
RULAAC stressed that “this matter requires more than administrative clarification” and “demands urgent, independent scrutiny and credible public accountability.”
