Juliana Francis
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has raised urgent concerns over the worsening health condition of Mr Kenneth Anyanwu, who is currently in police custody following a shooting incident involving operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as “Tiger Base.”
In a statement issued on April 22, 2026, the Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said credible medical information available to the organisation indicates that Anyanwu is in critical condition, with reports suggesting that his lungs have collapsed.
Nwanguma expressed concern that Anyanwu remains detained in a police hospital facility, allegedly “grossly unequipped to manage his life-threatening injuries,” with no indication that he has been transferred to a more suitable medical centre.
“This situation constitutes an immediate and preventable risk to life,” he said.
According to him, Anyanwu was shot by a police operative and has since remained in custody without adequate medical care, while his family continues to bear the cost of treatment despite being unable to raise the estimated ₦15 million required for urgent intervention.
Nwanguma stressed that the Nigeria Police Force has a legal duty of care to safeguard the life and health of individuals in its custody, particularly those injured during police operations.
“Failure to provide urgent and adequate medical care in these circumstances may amount to a grave violation of the right to life and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment,” he said.
He called for immediate action, including the urgent transfer of Anyanwu to a properly equipped, independent tertiary medical facility and for the police to assume full responsibility for his medical expenses.
Nwanguma also demanded “unhindered access to his family and independent medical professionals,” as well as a “transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his shooting and continued detention.”
He further reiterated concerns over the whereabouts of Mr Uchechukwu Maduakolam, whose location, he said, remains unknown to his family.
“Any further delay in providing life-saving treatment to Mr Anyanwu may result in irreversible harm or death, for which the relevant authorities will be held fully accountable,” Nwanguma warned.
“The Nigeria Police Force must act immediately to prevent what could become a tragic and avoidable loss of life,” he added.
