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Amnesty demands probe into alleged killings, disappearances, police abuses in South-East

Published

2 months ago

August 23, 2026

Amnesty demands probe into alleged killings, disappearances, police abuses in South-East

UMUAHIA, Abia State — Amnesty International has called for urgent investigations into alleged unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary arrests and other human rights violations in South-East Nigeria, urging security agencies to account for people allegedly taken into custody.

The rights organisation made the call in Umuahia during the presentation and campaign launch of its report, A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South-East Nigeria.

Amnesty said families across the region had continued to live with uncertainty over the fate of relatives who allegedly disappeared following encounters with security personnel, while some others were reportedly found dead.

The organisation urged security agencies to either charge detainees to court or release them, stressing that prolonged detention without trial violates fundamental rights and undermines the rule of law.

Amnesty researcher Maurice Chukwu said the organisation had received accounts of young people from the South-East who were allegedly being held in police detention facilities without trial.

He said families had shared what he described as disturbing accounts of relatives who allegedly disappeared after being arrested by security operatives and whose whereabouts remained unknown for years.

Chukwu also raised concerns about alleged abuses involving the police tactical unit popularly known as Tiger Base, including allegations of extortion, intimidation, torture and unlawful detention.

Amnesty’s concerns over Tiger Base follow a separate 2026 investigation in which the organisation alleged that officers attached to the unit in Imo State were involved in serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, extortion, enforced disappearances and deaths in custody.

Amnesty called for independent and impartial investigations into the allegations and urged authorities to ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable.

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The organisation’s broader report on the South-East documented the scale of violence in the region and stated that at least 1,844 people were killed between January 2021 and June 2023.

The report attributed violence to a range of actors, including security forces, armed groups, criminal gangs, vigilantes and other non-state actors. Amnesty stressed that accountability should apply to all perpetrators, regardless of whether they are state or non-state actors.

At the Umuahia event, Amnesty campaigner Samson Abobarin said the organisation was submitting a petition signed by concerned residents to governors in the South-East.

According to him, the petition calls on the governors to put pressure on security agencies to provide information about people allegedly taken away during security operations.

Representing the Abia State Attorney-General, Director of the Citizens’ Rights Department in the Ministry of Justice, Chinoyerem Patience Onyemenam, said the state government had zero tolerance for human rights abuses and injustice.

She acknowledged that while many police officers remained committed to their duties, concerns had been raised about some operational practices. She assured participants that the issues presented at the event would be investigated.

A representative of the Abia State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Nkechi Okoji, also supported the campaign and recounted the alleged arrest and extortion of a medical student from Aba.

She alleged that the student was arrested by police officers, taken to a location far from where he was picked up and subsequently extorted.

The campaign also featured emotional testimonies from relatives who said their husbands, brothers and sons had disappeared or died following encounters with security operatives.

Esther Chilem alleged that her husband, Godspower Chilem, was arrested at the premises of Life Gate Church in Aba on June 23, 2022.

She said she was subsequently informed that he had been taken to the Rapid Response Squad but that repeated efforts to locate him at police detention facilities were unsuccessful.

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Another petitioner, Carolina Chukwuma, alleged that her husband, Chukwuma Mwaokike, was arrested by the Department of State Services at St Paul Junction, Aba, on April 26, 2021.

She said she later received information that he had been transferred to the Central Police Station in Aba and appealed to authorities to establish his whereabouts or secure his release.

Cecilia Anonorachi said her husband, Christian Ifeanyi, was arrested in Aba in 2023 and had not been seen since.

She appealed to Abia State Governor Alex Otti to intervene and assist families whose relatives were allegedly missing after encounters with security agencies.

Another petitioner, Nicholas Egekwu, alleged that police officers attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Umuahia took several young people away following an attack by unknown gunmen.

He said his two sons, Obinna and Onyebuchi, were among those taken away and that he later discovered their bodies at a mortuary in Umuahia.

“It remains the saddest day of my life,” Egekwu said, according to his testimony at the event.

A human rights activist trained by Amnesty International, Samuel Agwu, also called for an independent investigation into alleged disappearances and security operations in the region.

Agwu alleged that many families were afraid to speak publicly about missing relatives because of concerns about possible reprisals.

He further alleged that some young people arrested during security operations were being held for prolonged periods without trial, including people allegedly taken into custody during operations in Obigbo, Rivers State.

Amnesty’s campaign comes amid a complex security situation in the South-East, where authorities have been battling attacks blamed on armed separatist groups, criminal networks and other armed actors.

The organisation’s research has emphasised that the violence cannot be attributed to a single group. Its report documented alleged abuses involving both security agencies and non-state actors, including IPOB/ESN, unknown gunmen, cult groups, vigilantes and Ebube Agu.

Amnesty has therefore called for accountability across the board, insisting that violations committed by security personnel should be investigated just as abuses allegedly committed by armed and criminal groups must also be addressed.

The organisation’s separate investigation into Tiger Base alleged that detainees were subjected to beatings and other forms of torture, while some were allegedly held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

Amnesty also documented allegations of extortion and deaths in custody and called for an independent investigation into the conduct of officers attached to the unit.

The organisation has said authorities must ensure that victims and their families have access to justice, effective remedies and appropriate reparations where violations are established.

The campaign also comes after Nigerian authorities announced changes concerning the Tiger Base operational structure following widespread concerns over alleged abuses. Amnesty said it would continue monitoring the implementation of the measures.

For families whose relatives remain missing, however, the demand remains straightforward: they want authorities to establish what happened to their loved ones and provide official answers.

Amnesty said security operations must comply with Nigerian law and international human rights standards, stressing that efforts to combat insecurity should not come at the expense of fundamental rights.

The organisation maintained that lasting peace and stability in the South-East would require not only effective security measures but also accountability, justice, transparency and respect for the rule of law.

Amnesty demands probe into alleged killings, disappearances, police abuses in South-East

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NSCIA Rejects Genocide Claims, Demands Urgent Security Overhaul

Published

9 hours ago

October 7, 2026

Trends Admin

NSCIA Rejects Genocide Claims, Demands Urgent Security Overhaul

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has rejected claims that Christians or any other religious community is facing genocide in Nigeria, saying the country’s insecurity affects citizens regardless of their faith.

The council, however, demanded an urgent and comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s security architecture, while supporting decentralised policing subject to constitutional safeguards, professionalism, impartiality, accountability, adequate funding and respect for fundamental rights.

The position was contained in a communiqué issued after the NSCIA General Assembly held at the Abuja National Mosque on October 1, 2026, under the theme, “Nigerian Muslims and the Imperative of Nation-building.”

The assembly was presided over by the Sultan of Sokoto and NSCIA President-General, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, with Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, Chief Imams, leaders of major Islamic organisations and delegates from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in attendance.

On the country’s security challenges, the council said insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of faith, rejecting attempts to frame the crisis as an attack on one particular religious group.

It urged the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive review of the security system and improve coordination between federal and state security institutions.

The NSCIA backed state or decentralised policing, but stressed that any such arrangement must be built around professionalism, impartiality, accountability, sustainable funding, constitutional safeguards and protection of fundamental human rights.

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The council’s position comes amid continuing national debate over proposals to amend Nigeria’s constitutional framework to allow more decentralised policing.

Beyond security, the NSCIA urged the government to accelerate measures to reduce the rising cost of food and transportation, saying ordinary Nigerians were still facing significant economic hardship.

The council acknowledged efforts to revive the economy but called for faster action to ease the burden on households.

The Islamic body also cautioned against using religion to promote hatred, violence and division.

It urged Muslim scholars to resolve disagreements through internal mechanisms rather than publicly attacking one another, while encouraging Muslims to verify information before circulating allegations or claims that could damage individuals or deepen social tensions.

On religious rights, the council called on government institutions to respect the right of Muslim women and girls to wear the hijab, including female students, NYSC members, security personnel and Muslim women working in other organisations.

The NSCIA also criticised what it described as hostile positions by the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Lagos concerning Supreme Court judgments on hijab use in their international schools.

It urged the institutions to comply with the relevant court decisions and adopt more inclusive policies.

The council further called on the Rivers State Government and the management of Rivers State University to implement a Supreme Court judgment concerning the construction of a mosque for Muslim students at the institution.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the NSCIA urged Muslims to obtain their National Identification Numbers (NINs) and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in choosing leaders at all levels.

It said civic participation was part of the responsibility of citizens and encouraged Muslims to contribute positively to nation-building.

The council also encouraged Muslim organisations to promote economic independence through lawful investments and stronger administration of Zakat and Waqf as tools for sustainable poverty reduction.

On education, it called for greater emphasis on quality learning that combines Islamic knowledge with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

The General Assembly also adopted the 2026 report of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and endorsed its recommendations for repositioning the Hajj industry.

The NSCIA additionally honoured its Secretary-General, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, for his contributions to education and national development during his tenure as JAMB Registrar from August 2016 to July 2026.

The council’s resolutions come amid continuing debate over religious violence, insecurity and allegations of persecution in Nigeria.

By rejecting a religious-genocide framing while demanding broad security reforms, the NSCIA said the country’s security crisis should be addressed as a national challenge affecting Nigerians across religious lines.

NSCIA Rejects Genocide Claims, Demands Urgent Security Overhaul

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Breaking: PINL Drags Asari-Dokubo To DSS Over N2.7tn Pipeline Claim

Published

9 hours ago

October 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Breaking: PINL Drags Asari-Dokubo To DSS Over N2.7tn Pipeline Claim

Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over a claim by Niger Delta activist Asari-Dokubo that about N2.7 trillion is paid annually for pipeline surveillance contracts.

In the petition dated October 7, 2026, PINL described the allegation as false and inciting, arguing that the claim could expose its directors and senior management to security threats and undermine peace in the Niger Delta.

The company said Dokubo made the allegation in a video circulated on social media on October 5 while discussing pipeline surveillance contracts and other developments in the oil-producing region.

PINL urged the DSS to investigate the allegation, establish its source and invite Dokubo to provide evidence supporting the claim.

The company further asked that if the allegation is found to be false, Dokubo should publicly retract it and face any appropriate legal action.

PINL said the circulation of the claim could create the impression that huge amounts of public money were being diverted to particular individuals or interests, potentially fuelling resentment among communities in the oil-producing region.

The company also expressed concern that the allegation could heighten ethnic tensions involving Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities, warning that renewed tensions could threaten security gains recorded in the Niger Delta.

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According to PINL, the security of oil infrastructure has wider implications for Nigeria’s crude oil production, government revenue and foreign exchange earnings, making stability in the region a matter of national importance.

The company said it had contributed to efforts to combat crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and militancy, and warned that any deterioration in security could affect national oil output.

PINL also asked the DSS to conduct a threat assessment and consider protection for its directors, management, employees and project sites.

The company’s petition comes amid a wider controversy over pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta, following Dokubo’s allegations involving the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and other stakeholders.

The Olu of Warri has separately rejected the allegation that he receives N2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts.

Through his representative to NNPC Limited and its joint-venture partners, Collins Edema, the monarch challenged Dokubo to produce documentary evidence supporting the claim.

Edema also called for relevant pipeline surveillance contracts, procurement records, government approvals, corporate documents and performance reports to be examined if questions have been raised about the arrangements.

The monarch’s representative said allegations concerning the management of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure should be addressed through evidence and independent scrutiny rather than rhetoric.

The dispute has therefore widened from a public exchange over the alleged N2.7tn pipeline contract payments into a formal security complaint, with PINL asking the DSS to investigate the claims and determine whether they constitute a threat to individuals or public order.

The actual value, beneficiaries and terms of the pipeline surveillance arrangements remain matters for documentary verification and investigation.

Breaking: PINL Drags Asari-Dokubo To DSS Over N2.7tn Pipeline Claim

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Breaking: 20 Abducted Corps Members Regain Freedom In Imo

Published

11 hours ago

October 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Breaking: 20 Abducted Corps Members Regain Freedom In Imo

Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and another person abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State have regained their freedom.

The abducted corps members were reportedly rescued on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, bringing relief to their families after days in captivity.

The victims are currently receiving medical treatment at the Department of State Services (DSS) Hospital in Owerri, according to a report confirming their release. (NPO Reports)

The prospective corps members were among passengers travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in the South-East and South-South when gunmen attacked vehicles conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State on October 1.

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The incident triggered a major security operation involving the police, military, DSS and other security agencies as efforts intensified to locate and rescue those taken into captivity.

Earlier reports said the abductors had demanded ransom from the families of the victims, while relatives raised concerns about the safety and wellbeing of the kidnapped graduates.

Security agencies had also deployed additional personnel and operational assets to Imo State as pressure mounted for the safe recovery of the NYSC members.

The latest development means the 20 prospective corps members and another abducted person are now out of captivity and receiving medical attention.

Details of the circumstances surrounding their rescue, including whether any arrests were made or ransom was paid, were not immediately available.

The development is expected to bring significant relief to the families who had spent days seeking the safe return of their loved ones.