From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
A civil society group, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for the immediate closure of the Imo State Anti-Kidnapping Unit (Tiger Base) of the Imo Police Command.
RULAAC also called for the investigation of the officers of the unit over alleged extra-judicial killings, torture, extortion and illegal detention by officers of the
The Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, who made the demand at the weekend following the alleged torturing to death of one Japheth Njoku, who died in the custody of the unit on May 26, 2025 having been detained at the unit since March over an alleged cigarette theft.
The statement read in part: “RULAAC expresses grave concern over the persistent reports of widespread human rights abuses, including torture, unlawful detention, extortion, and extrajudicial killings perpetrated by operatives of the Tiger Base Police Unit, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Imo State Police.
Japheth Njoku was not a criminal. He was a 32-year-old newlywed, a dedicated employee at the Alaba Market in Owerri for over a decade. His only crime was being poor and powerless in a country where truth is often silenced.
In March 2025, Japheth was detained over a minor allegation of cigarette theft — a matter that was eventually settled with the alleged complainant. But before he could breathe the air of freedom, Mrs. Oluchi Obiagwu, a trader at the same market, manufactured a claim that she had lost N15 million worth of goods over the past four years, an accusation that had never been previously reported to the market authorities or police.
With the help of her relative, a police inspector, the matter was transferred to Tiger Base, a notorious torture facility masquerading as a police unit. Japheth was abducted from the gate of the Area Command after being cleared, and he was never free again.”
Continuing, RULAAC said: “Inspector (name concealed) and his accomplices at Tiger Base tortured Japheth relentlessly, demanding a confession to a crime he did not commit, and pressing his family to pay millions of naira in extortion money. Even after reducing the “ransom” to N4 million, they persisted with sadistic brutality. Japheth’s brother pleaded, negotiated, and even began to raise funds. Still, it was not enough.
“On May 6, 2025, Japheth died and his body was secretly deposited in the morgue at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, while the police continued to lie to his family, and pretended he was still alive. They even accepted food meant for a dead man.
“We call for immediate closure and investigation of Tiger Base by the National Human Rights Commission and Police Service Commission. We demand the arrest and prosecution of all police officers involved for murder, torture, and abuse of office.”