Amnesty report alleges systemic abuse, torture at Nigeria Police “Tiger Base” unit in Owerri

A new human rights investigation has raised serious allegations of torture, extortion, and extrajudicial killings within a specialised unit of the Nigeria Police Force operating in Imo State, with claims of widespread abuse inside its detention facilities.

The findings, detailed in an Amnesty International report titled “Tiger Base of Atrocities: Human Rights Violations by Nigeria Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Owerri,” describe what it calls a pattern of unlawful detention practices and brutality allegedly carried out by officers attached to the unit commonly known as “Tiger Base.”

The report claims the unit, originally set up to combat kidnapping and armed robbery, has deviated from its mandate and in some cases been used to settle private disputes, including family and land-related conflicts. It also alleges that some detainees are arrested arbitrarily and held without due process.

According to the investigation, detention conditions at the facility are described as severely overcrowded, with reports of inmates held in small, poorly ventilated cells in numbers far exceeding capacity. The report also alleges poor sanitation conditions, including limited access to clean facilities, which it says contribute to health risks among detainees.

Amnesty International further alleges that former detainees described incidents of torture and ill-treatment, including beatings and other forms of coercion used to extract confessions. The organisation says these accounts point to serious violations of international human rights standards.

The report also raises concerns about alleged extortion practices, claiming that families of detainees are sometimes asked to pay money for release despite bail being constitutionally free in Nigeria. It further alleges that such payments are, in some cases, facilitated through unofficial channels.

Amnesty International Nigeria has called for urgent accountability measures, including independent investigations into the operations of the unit and broader reforms within tactical divisions of the police.

Reacting to past allegations of misconduct within the force, the Nigeria Police Force has consistently stated that it does not tolerate abuse of power and that officers found guilty of wrongdoing face disciplinary action, including dismissal and prosecution. However, rights groups argue that internal sanctions alone are insufficient and have renewed calls for independent oversight mechanisms.

The latest allegations add to ongoing concerns from civil society organisations about policing practices in Nigeria, particularly following the 2020 #EndSARS protests, which highlighted longstanding accusations of abuse by tactical police units.

Authorities have not yet issued a detailed response specifically addressing the latest Amnesty International report at the time of filing this story.