A Lawyer, who is also a public affairs commentator and human rights advocate, Mr Wisdom Chude, has called for an urgent investigation into allegations of unlawful detention, extortion, and human rights abuses at the Octopus Unit of the C4i Department in Mile 2, Diobu, operated by the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State.
Chude disclosed that he recently received a complaint from an individual who alleged that he was arrested and detained at the facility over a petition that had no connection to him.
According to the complainant, he was held in custody for several days, during which he was allegedly subjected to severe beatings and repeated slaps. He further claimed that he was compelled to pay N180,000 to secure his release on bail.
The complainant also alleged that personal belongings seized from him, including his shoes and shirts, were only returned after additional payments were made for each item.
Chude described the allegations as disturbing, noting that the complainant further reported that several detainees had allegedly been held at the facility for between two and three months without being granted bail or charged before a court of law.
He also recounted the case of another young man who was allegedly extorted of N200,000 under the guise of bail, only to be returned to the cell after making the payment.
Expressing concern over the alleged violations, Chude questioned the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms meant to monitor detention facilities in the state.
He noted that Rivers State has an Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee and that the law requires judges or chief magistrates to conduct monthly inspections of police stations and detention facilities within their jurisdictions.
“From all indications, this either rarely happens or is carried out selectively,” he said.
The allegations prompted a response from the Rivers State Police Command through its spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koko, who addressed concerns raised over the facility.
In a follow-up statement issued after the police response, Chude commended the command’s prompt reaction but maintained that the matter should not be treated as an isolated complaint involving a single individual.
According to him, the concerns surrounding the unit predate the recent allegations.
“From my personal experience, that unit has, to my knowledge, operated with little regard for the law since 2024,” he stated.
Chude urged the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State to conduct an unannounced inspection of the facility, arguing that prior notice could undermine the objective of assessing conditions within the detention centre.
He expressed concern that detainees could potentially be moved temporarily ahead of scheduled visits, a practice he said would frustrate efforts to uncover the true state of affairs at the facility.
He further noted that many victims of unlawful arrest and unconstitutional detention often lack the courage, resources, or legal knowledge required to challenge such actions.
Chude also criticised the accessibility of the Rivers State Police Public Relations Office and the Complaint Response Unit (CRU), alleging that both offices have developed a reputation for failing to respond to calls from members of the public.
According to him, before making his initial allegations public, he advised the complainant to contact both offices, but the calls allegedly went unanswered.
He said that even after forwarding the police press release to the complainant and encouraging him to make another attempt, his calls were still not answered.
“This is not an isolated complaint; it has become a recurring pattern. Calls to these offices are routinely ignored, which undermines public confidence in the very channels established to receive and address citizens’ complaints,” Chude said.
He thanked Nigerians who drew attention to the matter through social media engagement and suggested alternative approaches to seeking redress.
The allegations contained in Chude’s statements have not been independently verified. The Rivers State Police Command has responded to aspects of the concerns raised, while calls for further scrutiny of the facility continue.
