…Holds Townhall Meeting in Imo
By Stanley Okehie
Amnesty International has held a town hall meeting on strengthening accountability, professionalism and civilian protection within Nigeria’s security architecture.
The event, which took place in Owerri, the Imo State capital, brought together policymakers, police authorities, legal professionals, civil society actors and other key stakeholders.
Speaking during the programme, a Researcher with Amnesty International, Maurice Chukwu, said the campaign was centred on the organization’s report titled “Tiger Base of Atrocities: Human Rights Violations by Nigeria Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Owerri.”
According to him, the report exposed alleged patterns of abuse and human rights violations at Tiger Base, including deaths in custody, torture, enforced disappearances, prolonged unlawful detention, extortion and forced labour, among others.
Chukwu expressed concern that no official of the Tiger Base Unit had been held accountable through recognised judicial processes. He called for officers found culpable to be charged to court and prosecuted in line with the law through fair trials.
He further advocated total reforms at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, while reaffirming Amnesty International’s commitment to ensuring that every resident in Nigeria enjoys fundamental human rights.
The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said the Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso-led Command remains committed to improving police service delivery and effective policing in the state.
Okoye stated that the Command had continued to uphold the rights of citizens, disclosing that more than eight errant police officers had been dismissed from the Command, while three had been arraigned and remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
He stressed the importance of collaboration between the police and the public, urging citizens to report alleged violations of rights by police personnel.
On allegations of abuses at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Okoye invited individuals with credible evidence of human rights violations to report to the Command, assuring that decisive action would be taken against any officer found culpable while justice would be ensured for victims.
The police spokesperson attributed the relative peace being enjoyed in the state to the efforts of officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit working in synergy with other tactical units and police formations.
Earlier, the Digital Campaigner for Amnesty International, Samson Abobarin, explained that the essence of the campaign was to call for independent investigations into allegations of human rights violations at Tiger Base, end abuses, strengthen justice and oversight mechanisms, and amplify the voices of survivors.
He lamented that victims and families of alleged abuses at Tiger Base still face barriers in accessing justice, while accountability remains limited. He therefore emphasized the need to strengthen oversight and protect the rights of detainees.
Some participants at the event also made recommendations aimed at ending police brutality in the country.
A legal practitioner, Chinedu Agu, urged stakeholders to remain vigilant and monitor activities around police facilities.
Also speaking, a frontline responder, Majorie Ezihe, advocated wider use of Amnesty International ’s research report, describing it as people-oriented and law-based. She called for greater awareness and action from stakeholders and members of the public.