FENRAD cited what it described as persistent and well-documented allegations of serious human rights violations linked to the facility.
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), has called for the immediate shutdown of a Nigeria Police Force facility popularly known as Tiger Base in Imo State.
FENRAD cited what it described as persistent and well-documented allegations of serious human rights violations linked to the facility.
In a statement issued on Friday in Owerri, FENRAD said allegations associated with Tiger Base span several years and include claims of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, arbitrary and prolonged detention, denial of access to lawyers and family members, extortion, and deaths in custody.
The statement was signed by FENRAD’s Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor.
According to the organisation, the allegations are supported by multiple independent sources, including affidavits and testimonies filed in Nigerian courts by detainees and their families, media reports by local and international outlets, petitions submitted to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and observations made by courts during habeas corpus and fundamental rights enforcement proceedings.
FENRAD noted that while allegations must be tested through due process, the volume, consistency and longevity of the reports raise concerns that require urgent institutional intervention.
"Over several years, credible reports from victims, families, legal practitioners, civil society organizations, and proceedings before Nigerian courts have consistently raised serious concerns about activities allegedly carried out at Tiger Base. These include reports of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; arbitrary and prolonged detention; denial of access to legal counsel and family members; extortion; and deaths in custody.
"FENRAD notes that these allegations are not isolated claims, but form a pattern reflected across multiple independent accounts, including: Affidavits and testimonies filed in Nigerian courts, where detainees and families have alleged severe physical abuse and unlawful detention linked to the facility;
"Publicly reported cases by national and international media outlets, detailing alleged torture, secret detention, and deaths following arrest by officers attached to Tiger Base;
"Petitions and complaints submitted to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and other oversight bodies by lawyers and civil society groups;
"Judicial observations in habeas corpus and fundamental rights enforcement proceedings, where courts have questioned prolonged detention and the conduct of officers connected to the facility."
“The continued operation of a facility facing such allegations poses a serious threat to constitutional governance and public confidence in law enforcement,” the organisation said
It added that the alleged practices appear inconsistent with provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), particularly the rights to life, dignity of the human person and personal liberty.
The group also argued that the alleged abuses conflict with Nigeria’s obligations under international and regional human rights instruments, including the United Nations Convention Against Torture, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Drawing parallels with previously disbanded police units, FENRAD warned that tactical formations operating with limited transparency and weak oversight are particularly vulnerable to abuse.
"FENRAD’s Demands; In light of these documented concerns, FENRAD formally calls for: 1. Immediate suspension of operations and closure of Tiger Base, pending the outcome of an independent investigation.
"2. Establishment of an independent judicial commission of inquiry to examine all allegations connected to the facility, including reported cases of torture, enforced disappearance, and deaths in custody.
"3. Transparent investigation and prosecution, where applicable, of any officers found to have violated the law, in accordance with due process and without institutional shielding.
"4. Access to justice, compensation, and rehabilitation for victims and affected families, including medical and psychosocial support.
"5. Structural police reforms in Imo State, including independent oversight of tactical units, strict detention safeguards, mandatory human rights training, and guaranteed access to lawyers and family members for detainees.
"FENRAD calls on the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, the Imo State Government, the Judiciary, and the National Assembly to act promptly, transparently, and in the public interest.
"Failure to address these longstanding allegations risks eroding public confidence in law enforcement and undermining Nigeria’s constitutional and international human rights obligations.
"FENRAD also urges the media, civil society organizations, faith-based institutions, and the international community to continue to demand accountability, transparency, and respect for human dignity."