35 CSOs petition Senate, accuse Imo police of extra-judicial killings, torture
Worried by the spate of reported killings, torture and other forms of dehumanization allegedly meted out to Nigerians, especially South-Easterners by operatives attached to a special Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo Police Command, otherwise known as Tiger Base, Owerri, Imo State, no fewer than 35 civil society organizations, on Monday, kicked against the ugly trend and petitioned the Nigerian Senate.
This is coming on the heels of reports and videos depicting alleged human torture, maiming and other human rights violations on detainees.
A good number of those hitherto detained at the Tiger Base said they were threatened with death if they ever confess their experiences therein to Nigerians.
The CSOs stated this in a petition signed by Rule of Law, Accountability and Advocacy Centre, Lagos; Spaces for Change, Lagos; Elixir Trust Foundation, Benue State; Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development, Abia State; World Impact Development Foundation; Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication, llorin; Imam Mahdi Foundation for Global Peace and 30 others, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent on Monday.
The petition, which was addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, through the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, was titled, ‘Urgent Call for the Senate’s Investigation into Human Rights Violations by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command, Tiger Base.’
The petition reads in part, “We, the undersigned, hereby submit this petition to urgently bring to your attention the alarming activities of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command, located at Tiger Base. The operations of this unit have been reported to be far worse than those of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, with numerous documented instances of egregious human rights violations.
“Over the past one week, a serialized investigative journalism report (herewith attached), supported by testimonies from victims and survivors, has highlighted the atrocities committed and which must be thoroughly reviewed. The report reveals shocking accounts by victims, survivors, relatives of victims and survivors, activists and human rights defenders and witnesses of egregious human rights atrocities, corruption and flagrant abuse of power sustained by impunity and the failure of the police and police oversight authorities to investigate allegations and ensure accountability and justice. The report was also based on responses by the Nigeria Police, Correctional Services, the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, the Police Service Commission, and the National Human Rights Commission, among other respondents.
“’Tiger Base,’ as the notorious police unit has come to be generally known, was set up to tackle incidents of violent crimes, but the activities of the unit bear no resemblance to the requirements of the law or professional policing standards.
Instead, the unit’s activities and methods evoke the sad memories of the disbanded SARS which was notable for unchecked acts of violence and brutality, eventually sparking the spontaneous nationwide citizens’ revolt in October 2020 against police brutality.
That youth-led massive #EndSARS protest was sustained for days amidst calls for the disbandment of the rogue SARS unit, among other demands.
“It was hoped that the #EndSARS movement would have left some hard lessons for the police and the Nigerian authorities to make them see reasons to end police brutality by ensuring accountability for abuse, guaranteeing justice for victims and enacting far-reaching reforms that would root out the impunity that allowed widespread police violence, brutality and corruption.
“Alas, the activities of the Tiger Base, Owerri and similar police tactical units across various states show clearly that no lessons were learnt and that another uprising more cataclysmic could happen anytime soon unless police brutality is checked. Several petitions and reports about the atrocities going on at Tiger Base have been ignored and the atrocities continue unchecked and unabated.
“The failure of the authorities to investigate cases to ensure that perpetrators are brought to account and victims gain access to justice sustains the atmosphere of impunity that allows rampant egregious police abuse. For instance, the silence by the police authorities over the findings from the police investigation ordered by the Inspector-General of Police into allegations of arbitrary arrest, unlawful detention, torture, extrajudicial killings and organ harvesting brought against some police operatives attached to the Anambra State Rapid Response Squad (former SARS Awkuzu) by a whistleblower bears testimony to the disposition of police authorities to cover up the atrocities of their personnel rather than ensuring transparent investigations and taking appropriate actions to demonstrate that the police hierarchy is not complicit or does not condone or cover up atrocities. Lack of transparency in addressing complaints of human rights violations destroys public trust in law enforcement.
“The incidents reported in the attached report indicate a fundamental failure of the police to uphold the law, protect citizens, or adhere to ethical standards. The culture of impunity that allows these excesses to persist is detrimental to public trust in law enforcement and justice in Nigeria.
“It is against this background that we jointly submit this petition to draw urgent attention to the alarming allegations of human rights abuses and corruption involving the Tiger Base, Owerri. The troubling accounts from victims – including unlawful detention, torture, coercion, and extortion – reflect a disturbing pattern of misconduct that must be addressed swiftly and decisively.”
