Hope Uzodimma Sponsors Imo INEC Officials’ Jerusalem Pilgrimage, Sparks Controversy

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has sponsored the Resident Electoral Commissioner, seven INEC department heads, and 27 electoral officers on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, scheduled to begin January 20, 2026. Sources confirmed the officials will be prayed for and formally sent off from the Government House Chapel before departing Owerri for Israel. The development has raised concerns over political patronage and the independence of electoral officials amid Nigeria’s fragile democracy.

#BreakingNews #INEC #ImoPolitics #HopeUzodimma #ElectoralIntegrity #NigeriaPolitics

Witchcraft Accusations, Agwu Beliefs and Police Abuse in Imo State — How Extortion and Impunity Thrive

This opinion piece by Leo Igwe exposes how witchcraft accusations and beliefs surrounding Agwu rituals are being exploited by families, vigilantes and even police officers in Imo State to justify abuse, extortion and human rights violations. Using the case of 70-year-old Joseph Ottih and his family, the article details alleged police brutality, illegal arrests, destruction of property and collusion between relatives, vigilantes and the anti-kidnapping unit (Tigerbase). Igwe argues that witchcraft accusations are unlawful under Nigerian law, that freedom of religion is constitutionally protected, and that the police must enforce the law—not tradition or superstition. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) vows legal support for the victims, insisting that witch-hunting, ritual policing and religious bias within law enforcement must end.

Wahala Don Set Oo! Ex-Detainee Cries Out Over Torture, Starvation, Disappearances At Imo Police Tiger Base

Wahala don truly happen for Imo State as a former detainee, Augustine Sixtus Nwaiwu, has accused the police Anti-Kidnapping Unit, known as Tiger Base, of torture, starvation and the mysterious disappearance of detainees. In a petition to the Take It Back Movement, Nwaiwu said he was arrested on September 9, 2025, without a warrant, charge or explanation and detained for 10 days without being taken to court. He alleged that officers denied him food and clean water throughout his detention, describing the treatment as cruel and inhuman. He also said the cells were overcrowded, poorly ventilated and unfit for human beings. Most disturbing, Nwaiwu claimed that three detainees collapsed from hunger and harsh conditions, were taken away, and never returned. He warned that their disappearance raises fears of extrajudicial actions. Citing the Constitution, Anti-Torture Act and other laws, he demanded an independent investigation, accountability, compensation and reforms. Human rights groups say the petition adds to growing concerns over abuses at the facility.

CAPTI Declines Nigeria Police Meeting Over Human Rights Violations by Imo ‘Tiger Base’ Unit

The Coalition Against Police Tigerbase Impunity (CAPTI) has declined a scheduled meeting with the Nigeria Police Force’s Police Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters, Abuja. The coalition cited practical, logistical, and substantive constraints, emphasizing that the short notice and travel requirements made attendance impossible.

In a letter signed by Sanyaolu Juwon, CAPTI Coordinator, the group acknowledged the police’s willingness to engage but stressed that any meeting must include victims and their families, many of whom reside in Imo State or are held at Owerri Correctional Centre. CAPTI noted that meaningful engagement requires proper planning, sufficient notice, and clear mechanisms for victim testimonies and accountability.

The coalition remains open to dialogue but requested a mutually convenient date with arrangements allowing for inclusive participation of victims and civil society observers. CAPTI has been vocal about alleged abuses by the Tiger Base anti-kidnapping unit, advocating for transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights in Nigerian policing.

#CAPTI #TigerBase #HumanRights”

Nigeria Police Summon Rights Group CAPTI Over Alleged Human Rights Abuses by Imo ‘Tiger Base’ Operatives

The Nigeria Police Force, through its Police Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters, Abuja, has summoned the Coalition Against Police Tigerbase Impunity (CAPTI) following a petition detailing alleged torture and human rights abuses by operatives of the Imo State Tiger Base Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

The invitation, issued under Reference No: CR: 3000/1GP.SEC/PMU/OPS/ABJ/VOL:/261/78 on January 8, 2026, requested CAPTI representatives and victims’ relatives to attend an interview on January 12, 2026, to provide further details on the allegations.

CAPTI, citing short notice, logistical constraints, and the need for adequate preparation, informed the police that it could not attend the scheduled meeting. The rights group, headquartered in Lagos, expressed its commitment to constructive engagement with the Nigeria Police Force while highlighting challenges in mobilizing stakeholders on short notice for a meeting in Abuja.

The coalition emphasized the importance of accountability, justice, and protection of citizens’ fundamental rights, while acknowledging the police’s willingness to engage with civil society on matters of public concern.

#NigeriaPolice #HumanRights #CAPTI”

Imo Police Arrest Suspect in Viral Defilement Case, Detain Officers for Misconduct

The Imo State Police Command has arrested 24-year-old Wisdom Onyeaju, following a widely circulated video alleging his involvement in a defilement case that sparked public outrage on social media. Onyeaju, a native of Umuekweye, Irete, in Owerri West Local Government Area, was taken into custody after the victim’s family provided credible information to authorities.

The suspect is currently held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and is undergoing a thorough investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, Onyeaju is expected to be arraigned in court and formally charged.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Okoye Henry, confirmed that the case revealed alleged professional misconduct by some officers initially handling the matter. These officers have been identified, detained, and will face an orderly room trial scheduled to begin on Monday, January 12, 2026, in line with police regulations.

The Imo State Police Command emphasized its commitment to transparency, professionalism, and accountability, assuring the public that justice will be served and that all investigative steps are being taken to address both the alleged crime and misconduct within the force.

House of Reps Member Ikenga Ugochinyere Defects from PDP to APP
January 7, 2026 – Politics

Ikenga Ugochinyere, representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Peoples Party (APP). He announced his decision on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Ugochinyere, a vocal and influential lawmaker, had faced attempts by PDP officials at local and ward levels to expel him for alleged anti-party activities. However, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) later nullified the expulsion, declaring it unconstitutional.

The lawmaker’s defection delivers another setback to the PDP in Imo State and highlights ongoing internal tensions within the party.

EXCLUSIVE: Tiger Base Atrocities—Imo Police Staff Allege Threats To Life, Abuse Of Power And Dismissal Plot By Anti-Kidnapping Unit Commander ACP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa

Police personnel attached to the notorious Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command, popularly known as Tiger Base, Owerri, have raised serious allegations of intimidation, threats to life, and an alleged plot to dismiss one of their own by the unit’s commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa.

In an exclusive account to SaharaReporters, a police staff member accused the commander of sustained harassment, humiliation, and professional victimisation, claiming the crisis escalated after she rejected an alleged personal relationship with him. She further alleged that she was falsely accused of collaborating with activists and social commentators, including Omoyele Sowore, VeryDarkMan and Nonso Nkwa, to expose alleged atrocities linked to Tiger Base.

The staff member said she was transferred from Tiger Base to Egbema Division in October 2025, a posting she described as extremely dangerous due to repeated threats to her life. Despite raising safety concerns and receiving assurances from the commander that the posting would be reviewed, no action was taken. She also claimed that efforts to seek help through the Imo State Government’s Chief Security Officer, CSP Shaba—allegedly a close ally of the commander—proved futile.

Months later, the officer was allegedly informed that a dismissal letter had already been prepared, with the commander reportedly blocking her calls and openly boasting about plans to sack her. The police staff described an atmosphere of fear within the Imo State Police Command, alleging that ACP Odeyeyiwa and CSP Shaba wield unchecked influence, making officers afraid to speak out.

Fearing for her life and livelihood, the officer appealed for urgent intervention, warning that silence is enforced through intimidation and the risk of victimisation. SaharaReporters said attempts to obtain responses from the Imo State Police Command, ACP Odeyeyiwa, and CSP Shaba were unsuccessful as of the time of filing the report.

MURIC Demands Arrest of Nigerian for Inciting Kidnap and Kill of Igbo Muslims

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Maazi Kanayo over alleged incitement against Igbo Muslims in Southeastern Nigeria. According to MURIC Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, Kanayo circulated an audio clip on TikTok urging the kidnapping and killing of Igbo Muslims in Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo states.

MURIC highlighted that some Igbo Muslims are traditional rulers, raising concerns about potential communal unrest. The organisation urged security agencies, including the DSS and Nigerian Police, to act swiftly to protect lives, emphasizing that every minute counts in preventing harm.

Imo Shrine Dispute: Traditional Worshippers Accuse Tiger Base Police, Christian Groups of Torture, Midnight Raids and Religious Intolerance

A long-running religious conflict in Uru, Isi Ogwa autonomous community of Imo State has resurfaced, as traditional worshippers under the Nde Odinala Uru accuse community leaders, Christian groups and the notorious Tiger Base police unit of arrests, torture and intimidation. The crisis, which began in 2006 after the destruction of a sacred shrine during a Christian crusade, allegedly escalated into midnight raids, prolonged detention, extortion and human rights abuses. Victims described the Tiger Base facility as a “dungeon,” alleging torture, overcrowding, and psychological trauma, while insisting the crackdown was driven by religious intolerance. Community leaders have denied orchestrating the arrests, but civil rights advocates are calling for urgent investigations amid growing scrutiny of Tiger Base operations.

How Did We Under-Develop Ourselves?’ Sam Amadi Condemns Decay of Owerri Grammar School, Blames Africa’s Leadership Failures

Former Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, has criticised decades of poor leadership in Africa, using the dilapidated state of Owerri Grammar School in Imo State as evidence of governance failure. Reflecting on the school founded in 1958 by visionary leader Dr. Nnanna Ukaegbu, Amadi lamented how once-thriving public institutions have been allowed to decay despite years of democracy and massive public spending. He argued that Nigeria and Africa have regressed in education and healthcare since independence and urged African intellectuals to confront internal leadership failures rather than blaming colonialism alone for the continent’s underdevelopment.

Notorious Imo Police Unit Tiger Base After My Life, Lawyer Chinedu Agu Raises Alarm Over Alleged Threats

Human rights lawyer and activist Chinedu Agu has raised alarm over alleged threats to his life by operatives of the Imo State Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as Tiger Base, a unit long accused of torture, illegal detention and extrajudicial killings. Agu said credible intelligence revealed that elements linked to the unit have marked him for elimination due to his sustained advocacy and public criticism, including his role in unveiling the CAPTI report documenting over 200 deaths in Tiger Base custody. He has held the Nigeria Police Force and Imo State Government responsible for his safety, calling on local and international human rights organisations, diplomats and civil society groups to urgently intervene and ensure accountability.

Coalition Accuses Imo Police Tiger Base of Retaliating Against #TigerBaseMustFall Campaign With Mass Arrests, Remands 41 People

The Coalition Against Tigerbase Police Impunity (CAPTI) has accused the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command, known as Tiger Base, of retaliating against the #TigerBaseMustFall campaign through mass arrests and rushed court remands. In a statement issued on December 27, 2025, CAPTI revealed that 41 people were remanded at the Owerri Correctional Centre within two weeks following the campaign’s launch and the release of a report alleging at least 200 deaths in Tiger Base custody. The coalition described the actions as an attempt to cover up years of alleged torture, illegal detention, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings, including cases involving women and children. CAPTI called the recent arraignments “theatre” and demanded the immediate shutdown of Tiger Base and accountability for officers implicated in abuses.

Catholic Priest Shot by Unknown Gunmen in Imo State on Christmas Day, Survives Attack

A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Raymond Njoku, serving at St. Kevin’s Parish in Ogbaku, Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State, was shot by unknown assailants on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. The attack occurred around 8:00 a.m. as he attempted to enter his parish. Fr. Njoku sustained an injury to his right arm but was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he is reportedly recovering well. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen fired from a distance, and the priest’s vehicle was riddled with bullets. The Archdiocese of Owerri confirmed the incident, while the Imo State Police are investigating to identify the attackers.

43-year-old man arrested for allegedly def!ling his 7-year-old niece in Imo

A 43- year- old man, Kelechi Nwosu, has been arrested for allegedly def!l!ng his sister’s 7-year-old daughter in Umuobi Umukam in Obollo Autonomous Community, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on December 20, 2025.

Activist and journalist, Chidiebube Okeoma, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, December 24, said the suspect was arrested by his kinsmen and handed over to Police at Isiala Mbano Divisional Headquarters from where he was taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, in Owerri.

Okeoma, who is the president of a human rights organization, Stand For Humanity Foundation, said medical investigations carried out at the Police clinic in Owerri on Tuesday revealed that the child was @bused.

The result of the medical investigations also revealed that the suspect transmitted a urinary infection on the minor.

The spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, who confirmed the arrest said that the suspect would be arraigned at the conclusion of the investigations.

Amnesty International Condemns Threats To Lives Of Nonso Nkwa, RULAAC Director Okechukwu Nwanguma Over Exposing Police ‘Tiger Base’ Atrocities In Imo State

Amnesty International has raised alarm over threats to the lives and safety of human rights defenders and journalists in Nigeria, condemning reported intimidation against Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), and Owerri-based broadcaster and activist, Nonso Nkwa. According to the global rights organisation, the threats are linked to their efforts to expose alleged human rights abuses, including unlawful detention and other serious violations, at the notorious Tiger Base police detention facility in Owerri, Imo State.
Amnesty warned that the situation reflects a broader and troubling pattern of harassment and intimidation targeting whistleblowers, journalists, and activists who speak out against police brutality, corruption, and rights violations across the country. The organisation urged Nigerian authorities to immediately investigate the threats, guarantee the protection of both men, and ensure accountability for those responsible, stressing that silencing voices exposing injustice undermines the rule of law and democratic accountability.

Nigerian Journalist Alleges Assassination Plot by Imo Police Tiger Base Over Human Rights Reports

Investigative journalist and human rights activist Chinonso Uba Nonsonkwa has accused senior officers of the Imo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, known as “Tiger Base,” of plotting to assassinate him. Uba, president of the Nchekwa Ndi Ogbenye Foundation, alleges the threats are linked to his reports exposing alleged human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and extortion by the unit. He has called on international bodies such as Amnesty International and the United Nations to intervene, warning that both his life and that of his family are at risk.

Lady Travelling From Abuja to Imo for Christmas Sparks Reactions as Heavy Traffic Traps Vehicles on Lokoja Road for Over 12 Hours

A Nigerian lady travelling from Abuja to Imo State for Christmas has gone viral after sharing a video showing a massive traffic gridlock on the Lokoja road, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded for several hours. The traveller, identified on TikTok as @celes_icmhomes, revealed that she left home as early as 6am but was still stuck in traffic as of 8pm on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The video captured cars and commercial buses unable to move forward or backward, highlighting the severity of the congestion. According to the lady, there was no clear cause for the gridlock, a claim that further frustrated viewers. The viral footage triggered widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians lamenting the poor condition of the Lokoja road, the presence of heavy-duty trucks, and the recurring travel chaos during festive seasons. Several commenters joked about travellers spending Christmas on the road, while others offered prayers for safety and called on the government to urgently fix the road infrastructure.

Nigerian Police Inspector Attached to Imo Government House Found Dead in Room, Circumstances Under Investigation

Inspector Ekele Peter, a Nigerian Police officer from Ofante, Kogi State, assigned to the Imo State Government House, was found dead in his room on Friday, December 20, 2025, though he reportedly died on Tuesday. A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed the officer lying unclothed on the floor, and colleagues were seen covering him. The Nigeria Police Force has yet to issue an official statement. The incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny of police operations and internal audits, including a recent case in Niger State where a DSP died during a routine arms audit following suspicions of illegal ammunition dealings. Investigations into Inspector Peter’s death are ongoing.

Report Identifies 82 Nigerians Killed, 147 Abducted in Religious and Terror Attacks Between November–December 2025

A report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has documented 82 deaths and 147 abductions in Nigeria from November 23 to December 17, 2025, amid rising jihadist and religious violence. Victims include Christians, pregnant women, children, clerics, and students, with attacks concentrated in Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Kaduna, Edo, and Imo states. Over 3,900 parishioners were displaced, 936 homes destroyed, and 26 parishes attacked. The report alleges involvement of jihadist militants, allied armed groups, and some security personnel. Intersociety calls for prosecution of military commanders, wider investigation into infiltration of jihadists in security forces, redeployment of troops to affected areas, and systemic reforms in federal security and governance.