Date: March 14, 2026 l By: Dalena Reporters
A new report by Amnesty International has exposed disturbing allegations of human rights abuses at the “Tiger Base” police unit in Owerri, Imo State, claiming that female detainees were forced into months of hard labour while in custody at the controversial facility.
According to Amnesty International’s investigation titled “Tiger Base of Atrocities,” officers attached to the anti-kidnapping unit allegedly subjected detainees to torture, extortion, prolonged detention without trial, and forced labour, raising serious concerns about policing practices in southeastern Nigeria.
The rights organization said several women detained at the facility were coerced into performing manual labour, including construction work at the police unit, often under threats or intimidation from officers. Survivors reportedly told investigators they were forced to work for more than two months during the construction of a building within the police compound.
Amnesty’s findings are based on multiple research missions conducted between May 2025 and February 2026, during which investigators interviewed survivors, relatives of victims, lawyers, and civil society leaders to document alleged abuses committed by officers of the unit.Amnesty International's findings show that women detainees at Tiger Base Owerri Imo state were compelled to do hard labour for months under threats and coercion, a clear violation of their human rights.
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) March 14, 2026
A victim of forced labour in Tiger Base detention said:
“I carried over… pic.twitter.com/he9S5VswjG
The report also described degrading detention conditions inside Tiger Base, including overcrowded cells, poor ventilation, and unsanitary environments that have reportedly led to severe health complications and even deaths among detainees.
Former detainees alleged that torture was commonly used to extract confessions, with victims describing beatings, hanging, waterboarding, starvation, and other brutal treatment while in custody.
Amnesty International further accused the unit of arbitrary arrests and extortion, claiming officers sometimes detain individuals involved in civil disputes—such as land disagreements or family conflicts—before demanding large sums of money from their families for release.
Tiger Base, officially known as the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command, was originally established to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, and violent crime in the state. However, the unit has increasingly faced scrutiny from human rights organizations over allegations of torture and unlawful detention practices.
In response to the report, Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to launch an independent investigation into the allegations, prosecute officers found responsible for abuses, and ensure that detainees’ rights are protected in accordance with Nigerian law and international human rights standards.
The organization also urged the Nigerian government to fully implement the Anti-Torture Act of 2017, which criminalizes torture and other forms of cruel or degrading treatment by law enforcement officers.
The revelations have renewed calls from activists and civil society groups for greater oversight of police detention facilities across Nigeria, as pressure mounts on authorities to address persistent allegations of brutality and abuse within security agencies.