By Okechukwu Nwanguma
Once again, the dreaded “Tiger Base” – the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Nigeria Police in Owerri – has found itself at the centre of grave allegations of abuse, lawlessness, and impunity.
For those familiar with the patterns of policing in Nigeria, this is neither surprising nor isolated. It is part of a recurring cycle: a tactical unit created for serious crime-fighting gradually morphs into an instrument for intimidation, extortion, and the enforcement of private interests.
The latest case, involving Mrs Ifeoma Jennifer Ekeonugha, is particularly disturbing – not only because of the alleged violations, but because it reflects how deeply entrenched these abuses have become.
According to credible reports, officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit stormed her residence around 2:00 a.m., arrested her without a warrant, and whisked her away – reportedly in the absence of her husband, who appears to be the actual subject of interest. If this is true, then it is not just unlawful; it is a blatant case of arrest in lieu, a practice expressly prohibited under Nigerian law.
But it does not stop there.
She is said to have been held incommunicado – denied access to her family and legal representatives – and subjected to physical assault. These are not mere procedural breaches. They are serious human rights violations that strike at the heart of constitutional protections and the rule of law.
And yet, the context makes it even more troubling.
This is not a case of kidnapping, armed robbery, or violent crime—the very offences the Anti-Kidnapping Unit was established to address. Instead, it is linked to a civil land dispute currently pending before a competent court in Imo State.
Why then is a tactical police unit involved?
Why are armed operatives being deployed to a disputed parcel of land?
Why are individuals allegedly being harassed, displaced, and extorted under the guise of “security operations”?
These questions demand urgent answers.
The creeping use of police units – particularly elite or tactical formations – for the enforcement of private interests is one of the most dangerous distortions of policing in Nigeria today. It transforms law enforcement officers into tools in the hands of the powerful, undermines judicial processes, and fuels public distrust.
When citizens begin to see the police not as protectors, but as enforcers for the highest bidder, the social contract begins to break down.
The allegations of collusion between police officers and private actors in this case, if proven, would represent a profound betrayal of public trust. It would mean that state power – coercive, armed, and constitutionally sanctioned – is being deployed not for justice, but for advantage. And that is a slippery slope.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Tunji Disu Olatunji Disu, has an opportunity – and indeed a responsibility – to break this cycle.
It is not enough to issue statements or promise internal reviews. What is required is decisive, transparent, and public accountability.
Officers found to have engaged in unlawful arrests, torture, or abuse of power must be identified and sanctioned. Units like Tiger Base must be subjected to strict oversight, with clear operational boundaries that prevent their deployment in civil matters.
There must also be consequences for those – whether private individuals or public officials – who weaponise the police for personal gain.
Equally important is the immediate protection of the victim. If Mrs Ekeonugha is being held without a lawful basis, she must be released or promptly charged in court. Anything less would be a continuation of injustice.
This is not just about one woman. It is about a system that allows such incidents to happen repeatedly, often without consequence.
It is about a pattern in which citizens are arrested at night without warrants, detained without access, and used as leverage in disputes that have no place in the criminal justice system.
It is about the normalisation of impunity.
Nigeria cannot build a credible justice system on such a foundation.
If the police are to regain public confidence, they must return to first principles: legality, accountability, and respect for human rights. Anything short of that will only deepen the crisis.
Tiger Base has become a symbol. Unfortunately, it is not a symbol of safety – it is a symbol of fear. And until that changes, every new case will sound painfully familiar: Tiger Base—yet again.
Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma is the Executive Director, RULAAC
