Inside Nigeria’s “Tiger Base”: Ex-Detainee Reveals Daily Deaths and Torture

A survivor held at the Nigeria Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Owerri—known as Tiger Base—told Amnesty International he witnessed over 27 deaths during his detention. Each morning, fellow detainees would be found dead in the cell. The report documents widespread torture, extortion and arbitrary arrests. Detainees described severe beatings, waterboarding, hanging, forced labour and deliberate starvation. Families say officers demand large sums of money to secure releases and obstruct autopsy procedures when deaths occur. Amnesty International urges the Nigerian government to investigate these abuses, prosecute those responsible under the 2017 Anti-Torture Act, and strengthen oversight of police detention facilities to prevent further human rights violations.

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