Amnesty International has called for the immediate implementation of a coroner’s recommendations on the death of 32-year-old Japheth Njoku in police custody at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as Tiger Base, in Owerri, Imo State, demanding prosecution of implicated officers, compensation for the deceased’s family and an independent investigation into alleged attempts to obstruct justice.
The international human rights organisation made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday, welcoming the findings of a coroner’s inquest into Njoku’s death and insisting that the relevant authorities must act promptly on the recommendations.
Chief Magistrate E. U. Chinaka of the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Owerri, sitting as a coroner, delivered the findings on September 30, 2026.
According to findings reported by SaharaReporters on October 7, the coroner recommended the prosecution of Inspector Barnabas and the Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, CSP Olademeji, over allegations of extortion and corruption connected to Njoku’s prolonged detention.
The inquest established that Njoku was arrested on March 29, 2025, over an allegation of stealing goods at Alaba Market but remained in police custody for approximately six weeks without being charged to court or granted bail.
During the proceedings, allegations emerged that Inspector Barnabas demanded ₦500,000 as police bail, while an additional ₦300,000 was allegedly demanded for the complainant.
The coroner concluded that the alleged demands for money contributed to Njoku’s prolonged detention and rejected the claim that the deceased had been identified as a terrorist.
The court described the terrorism allegation as a fabrication allegedly intended to conceal what it characterised as an “illegitimate business of prolonged detention aimed at extortion and corruption.”
The findings have renewed concerns about allegations of abuse of police powers, unlawful detention and corruption within the facility, where suspects are held by officers attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
The inquest also heard disturbing testimony about overcrowding and appalling conditions inside the detention facility. One witness alleged that more than 45 suspects were confined in a severely cramped cell.
The coroner linked Njoku’s deteriorating health to his prolonged detention and the conditions in which he was held, concluding that the extended detention contributed to his untimely death.
An autopsy report tendered before the court listed meningitis, bronchial pneumonia and hypertensive heart disease as the causes of death. However, the medical pathologist who conducted the autopsy did not testify during the inquest.
Following the proceedings, the coroner directed the Imo State Ministry of Justice to prosecute Barnabas and Olademeji for alleged extortion and corruption.
The court also recommended the immediate transfer of all officers serving under the Anti-Kidnapping Unit as part of measures to address the allegations surrounding the facility.
Other recommendations included installing closed-circuit television cameras in police detention facilities, improving investigators’ training on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Police Act, and providing adequate compensation to Njoku’s family.
The Anti-Kidnapping Unit was further directed to sponsor Njoku’s burial, while the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Imo State were tasked with ensuring compliance with the recommendations.
The authorities were given three months to implement the measures outlined by the coroner.
Reacting to the findings, Amnesty International called on the Attorney-General of Imo State, the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission and the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, to ensure the immediate implementation of the recommendations.
The organisation insisted that anyone found to bear criminal responsibility for Njoku’s death must face prosecution, provided sufficient evidence exists to support the charges.
It also demanded adequate compensation and reparation for the deceased’s family, stressing that the authorities must ensure that those affected by alleged human rights violations have access to justice and effective remedies.
Amnesty International further called for an independent investigation into reported attempts to obstruct the court-ordered autopsy and intimidate witnesses during the process.
According to the organisation, such allegations must not be ignored, as they raise additional concerns about possible efforts to frustrate the investigation and prevent accountability for the death.
The human rights group said the coroner’s findings reinforced its longstanding concerns about alleged human rights violations at Tiger Base, including arbitrary detention, torture, other forms of ill-treatment, extortion and deaths in custody.
“Japheth Njoku entered police custody alive. His death demands truth, justice and accountability,” Amnesty International said.
The organisation maintained that Njoku’s family has a right to an effective remedy and that anyone suspected of responsibility for his death must be held accountable through a process that meets the requirements of justice.
It also urged Nigerian authorities to urgently address allegations of abuse at Tiger Base and other police detention facilities across the country.
Amnesty International called for stronger safeguards for people held in police custody, improved oversight of detention facilities and effective mechanisms to ensure that victims of human rights violations and their families can obtain justice and appropriate remedies.
The case has intensified scrutiny of police detention practices in Imo State, particularly allegations concerning the treatment of suspects at Tiger Base, a police tactical unit facility in Owerri.
The coroner’s findings and Amnesty International’s demands have placed renewed pressure on the relevant authorities to demonstrate that allegations of extortion, prolonged detention and other abuses will be investigated and addressed, and that officers found culpable will face the consequences.