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.

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”

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.

Rights Group Petitions IGP Over Alleged Torture, Killings at Imo Police ‘Tiger Base’ The Coalition Against Police Tiger Base Impunity (CAPTI) has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, alleging systemic torture, nightly executions, enforced disappearances, extortion, and judicial disregard at the Imo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, known as “Tiger Base.” The petition cites over 200 recorded deaths, torture chambers, obstruction of autopsies, hostage-taking of relatives, and promotions of implicated officers. CAPTI demands urgent investigations, accountability for senior officers, compliance with court orders, unhindered access for human rights bodies, and reparations for victims of what it describes as widespread and institutionalized human rights abuses between 2021 and 2025. #HumanRightsViolations #ImoPolice #TigerBaseAbuses