The Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force over allegations of staged detention inspections and inhumane treatment of detainees at the Imo State Police Command.
In a statement issued on April 17, 2026, Nwanguma raised concerns about the handling of detainees at the facility popularly known as Tiger Base, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Owerri.
According to him, credible reports indicate that detainees were allegedly removed from police cells on April 16 and 17 and taken to a Magistrate Court premises in Owerri, where they were reportedly held for several hours without access to food, water, or other necessities.
Nwanguma alleged that the move may have been linked to anticipated inspection visits, suggesting a possible pattern of temporarily relocating detainees to conceal actual detention conditions during oversight checks, after which they are returned to custody.
He noted that if verified, the allegations would raise serious concerns about compliance with constitutional protections on human dignity, adherence to international standards on detention, and the credibility of internal oversight mechanisms within law enforcement institutions.
While the Imo State Police Command has acknowledged a recent unscheduled visit by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police and reiterated its commitment to human rights compliance, he said critical questions remain unanswered regarding detainee whereabouts, custody records, and their physical presence during inspections.
Nwanguma therefore called for an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation into the matter, including a comprehensive audit of custody records, detainee movement logs, and detention conditions during the period under review.
He also urged authorities to allow independent interviews with detainees without police presence and to involve the National Human Rights Commission and the Nigerian Bar Association in the investigative process.
The RULAAC director further called for immediate measures to protect detainees, whistleblowers, and complainants from intimidation or retaliation.
He stressed that public trust in policing can only be sustained through transparency and accountability, warning that unresolved allegations of staged inspections could further erode confidence in law enforcement institutions.
#Securitynewsalert.com #TigerbasePolice #ImoPolice #Imocommand #antikidnappingunit
#rulaac #nwanguma
