Terror Behind Bars: Survivors Expose Torture and Killings at Imo’s Notorious Tiger Base

A chilling wave of fear grips the residents of Imo State as horrifying accounts emerge from those who have endured detention at the notorious Tiger Base, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command. This secretive and feared detention facility has been implicated in grave human rights violations, including torture, extortion, and extrajudicial killings.

For many former detainees, silence remains a shield against possible rearrest and retaliation. However, those who have dared to speak out paint a gruesome picture of a unit that operates with impunity, seemingly outside the boundaries of both Nigerian and international law.

A Hellish Ordeal

Among the brave survivors is Chinonso, who recounts a harrowing three-month ordeal at Tiger Base, where she was held under extreme conditions. She describes a stifling, poorly ventilated cell where detainees suffered from severe rashes and unrelenting heat.

“My brother tried multiple times to secure my release, but the officers insisted they would not let me go until I confessed to something I knew nothing about,” Chinonso revealed. Her nightmare began when her phone was stolen, only for the police to claim her lost device was linked to a murder investigation. She was only released after her mother, a widow, filed a petition through a human rights organization.

Another tragic story is that of Ekene Francis Elemuwa, a 34-year-old man who never made it out of Tiger Base alive. His uncle, Reverend Onyekwere Elemuwa, recounts how Ekene was arrested on August 28, 2023, along with a friend.

“Ekene was never given the opportunity to contact us. By September 4, he was dead. His cellmates confirmed that his body was removed from the cell,” Onyekwere said.

The family only learned of his death through a former detainee. When they sought answers, police officers stonewalled them, refusing to disclose how or where he died. The lack of transparency continues to haunt his relatives, who have yet to retrieve his body or obtain a clear explanation of the circumstances surrounding his death.

A Lawless Detention Center

For Opara, an arrest over a simple landlord-tenant dispute spiraled into a nightmarish experience.

“I never imagined a civil matter would land me in the hands of a police unit meant for handling violent crimes,” he said. Locked in a squalid cell, he witnessed firsthand the brutality meted out to detainees, many of whom languished for months without trial.

“Some had gunshot wounds and were left untreated, writhing in pain. Many had been there for months, waiting for a court hearing that never came,” Opara recounted.

He was only freed after his family paid N200,000, a reduced fee from the initial N500,000 demanded by the officers.

“This unit operates in total violation of human rights. I saw innocent people suffer simply because they couldn’t afford bail,” he added.

Disappearances and Unanswered Questions

For Chukwudi, the anguish of searching for his younger brother remains unbearable.

“He was picked up on his way back from work. We searched every police station in Owerri, only for someone to whisper that he was at Tiger Base. When we got there, the officers denied ever having him. To this day, we don’t know if he is alive or dead,” he said through tears.

This is not an isolated case. Reports indicate that several individuals taken to Tiger Base have vanished without a trace. Their families are left in the dark, battling an impenetrable wall of silence from authorities.

Legal and Human Rights Backlash

Human rights advocates have condemned the operations of Tiger Base, labeling it a rogue unit that flagrantly disregards legal and constitutional provisions.

Barrister Nduka, a human rights lawyer, emphasized the gravity of the situation: “This is an illegal detention facility where detainees are tortured until they confess to crimes they did not commit. Many never make it out alive.”

RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, decried the impunity that fuels these abuses.

“There is a culture of lawlessness within the Nigerian police force that allows these atrocities to persist. The government must investigate and dismantle Tiger Base,” he said.

Legal experts highlight that arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions without trial, and torture contravene Sections 34(1) and 35(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantee dignity and personal liberty. Yet, despite these protections, Tiger Base continues to operate in blatant violation of the law.

Mounting Pressure for Accountability

Amnesty International and the National Human Rights Commission have demanded immediate intervention, urging the Nigerian government to uphold its international human rights obligations. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for a thorough probe and the release of detainees held without charge.

Public outcry is growing, with activists staging protests outside government offices, holding placards that read, “End Police Brutality” and “Justice for the Missing.” Some families are now considering taking their cases to international human rights courts if Nigerian authorities fail to act.

State lawmakers have also weighed in, calling for a legislative inquiry into Tiger Base’s operations. “The safety and dignity of our citizens cannot be compromised. These troubling reports demand urgent attention,” one legislator stated.

Will Justice Prevail?

Despite mounting evidence and public pressure, the Nigerian police continue to deny any wrongdoing, insisting that their officers operate within legal bounds.

“We take human rights seriously and will investigate credible claims,” a police spokesperson stated. However, given the history of unresolved complaints, activists remain skeptical.

For victims like Chinonso, Opara, and the families of the disappeared, the pain and trauma linger. As the demand for justice grows louder, Nigerians are left wondering—will the authorities finally act, or will Tiger Base continue its reign of terror in the shadows?