January 9, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Coalition Against Police Tigerbase Impunity (CAPTI) has formally declined an invitation from the Nigeria Police Force’s Monitoring Unit to participate in a scheduled meeting in the nation’s capital, citing inadequate notice, logistical challenges, and concerns about meaningful engagement on alleged human rights abuses linked to the controversial Tiger Base police unit.
In a letter addressed to Assistant Commissioner of Police Magaji K. Mohammed and made public Friday, CAPTI acknowledged receiving the police invitation and expressed appreciation for the “institutional willingness” to engage civil society. However, the coalition said the short timeframe and lack of preparation made it impractical to attend the session as scheduled. The organisation also noted that many of the victims and their relatives affected by rights violations particularly those held at the Owerri Correctional Centre in Imo State, were not afforded the opportunity to participate, undermining the potential effectiveness of the dialogue.
CAPTI’s coordinator, Sanyaolu Juwon, emphasised that meetings of this nature must be adequately planned, inclusive and structured to allow presentation of evidence, testimonies from affected persons, and discussions that adequately address accountability frameworks. The coalition has urged the police to reconvene the meeting at a more convenient date, with sufficient notice and mechanisms to ensure victim representation.
The decision underscores long-standing tensions between Nigerian civil society groups and police authorities over alleged abuses at specialised units such as Tiger Base — the anti-kidnapping unit of the Imo State Police Command. Human rights advocates have accused the unit of torture, unlawful detention, extortion and numerous deaths in custody, claims the police have repeatedly denied.
CAPTI has in recent months drawn attention to alleged violations, including forced ransom payments, torture, and extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by operatives of the Tiger Base unit. It insists that such practices have gone unaddressed by police leadership, despite repeated petitions and public reporting by the coalition.
While CAPTI reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and accountability, the group stressed that any future dialogue must be transparent, well-prepared, and genuinely inclusive of victims and civil society observers, in order to advance justice and police reform in Nigeria.