A coalition of human rights advocates has accused the Imo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, known as “Tiger Base,” of being responsible for over 200 extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances between 2021 and 2025, demanding its immediate disbandment and an independent investigation.
The allegations were detailed in a new report titled The Tiger Base Files, unveiled today in Abuja by the Coalition Against Tiger Base Impunity (CAPTI).The document, based on testimonies from victims’ families, survivors, and witnesses, paints a grim picture of systemic torture, illegal detentions, extortion, and defiance of court orders at the Owerri-based unit.
CAPTI representatives highlighted cases such as Japhet Njoku, a security guard allegedly tortured to death in May 2025, and Magnus Ejiogu, who reportedly died in custody despite interventions from the National Human Rights Commission.
The report claims officers, including Assistant Commissioner Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa (the unit’s commander), have faced promotions rather than accountability.“The Tiger Base has become a symbol of impunity, operating like a torture chamber where suspects are executed nightly and bodies disposed of covertly,” said a CAPTI spokesperson at the launch.
The group is calling for the suspension of implicated officers, a judicial commission of inquiry, and structural reforms to prevent future abuses.Scene from a human rights advocacy event in Nigeria, representative of report launches like that of The Tiger Base Files in Abuja.
The accusations build on months of public outcry, including petitions from groups like the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) and earlier reports of deaths in custody, such as businessman Levi Opara in late 2025.Imo State Police spokesperson Henry Okoye has repeatedly denied the claims, describing them as “baseless” and aimed at undermining the unit’s successes in combating kidnapping and armed robbery.
In recent statements, the command established a Human Rights Desk within Tiger Base to address complaints and urged the public to provide evidence for investigations.
Human rights organizations, including Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), have echoed calls for federal intervention, warning that unchecked impunity risks eroding public trust in law enforcement.
As of today, no official response has come from the Inspector-General of Police or the Police Service Commission regarding the latest report.
The controversy surrounding Tiger Base recalls the 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality, highlighting persistent concerns over tactical units in Nigeria
