A chilling petition has accused officers of the Imo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, known as Tiger Base, of unlawful arrest, torture, starvation, and the disappearance of detainees.

The petitioner, Augustine Sixtus Nwaiwu, told the Take It Back (TIB) Movement that he was arrested on September 9, 2025, without a warrant or explanation and detained for 10 days without being taken to court.

He said he was denied food and clean water throughout his detention and held in overcrowded, poorly ventilated cells that were unfit for human beings.

According to him, the conditions were so harsh that some detainees collapsed from hunger and heat. Some lost their lives He claimed that three men who fainted were taken away and never returned, raising fears about their safety and possible extrajudicial actions.

Nwaiwu said the treatment he received amounted to torture and a violation of his constitutional rights and Nigeria’s anti-torture laws, as well as international human rights standards.

In his petition, he called for an independent investigation into the Tiger Base unit, accountability for the officers involved, and answers about the whereabouts of the missing detainees. He also asked for compensation, a public apology, and reforms to stop future abuses.

Human rights groups have long raised concerns about alleged torture and unlawful detention at Tiger Base. The police have denied these claims, but this new petition adds to growing public scrutiny over how detainees are treated in the facility.