Amnesty International Calls for Probe into Police Torture

A recent report by Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the 'Tiger Base' Police Unit in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, due to allegations of rampant human rights violations, including torture, extrajudicial executions, and extortion. The report details that detainees are kept in filthy, windowless cells and subjected to regular beatings, often without charges, leading to forced disappearances.

Established to tackle kidnapping and armed robbery, the unit is accused of unlawfully killing suspects and torturing detainees to extract confessions. Amnesty International's Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, urged the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the unit's conduct.

The report cites findings from UN Special Rapporteur Manfred Nowak, who previously visited Nigeria and noted that torture is widespread in police custody, particularly within the Central Criminal Investigation Department. The report emphasizes the need for law enforcement agents to perform their duties without resorting to torture.