RULAAC petitions IGP over alleged unlawful arrest, incommunicado detention, torture of woman by Tiger Base operatives
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the alleged unlawful arrest, incommunicado detention, physical assault and torture of Mrs. Ifeoma Jennifer Ekeonugha by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (Tiger Base) in Owerri, Imo State.
A petition dated March 24th, 2026 and addressed to the IGP, RULAAC Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma said the victim was arrested at about 2:00 a.m. on 23rd March 2026 from her residence in the absence of her husband, Mr. Kelechi Ekeonugha, a staff of the Imo State Ministry of Lands, Survey, Urban and Physical Planning.
The group alleged that the arrest was carried out without a warrant and appeared to be “arrest in lieu” of her husband, who is connected to verification and development activities on a disputed parcel of land known as Ugwumiri Okpo Land in Umuoyima Autonomous Community, Owerri Municipal.
The land is currently the subject of a pending civil suit before the Imo State High Court – Suit No. HOW/951/2025: Elder Charles Ucheoma & 4 Ors v. Coduc Nigeria Ltd & 3 Ors.
RULAAC said that despite the matter being before a competent court, certain individuals, including Mr. Chinedu Chukwuonye, purportedly acting for Coduc Nigeria Ltd, and some politically exposed persons, allegedly resorted to self-help by deploying armed police operatives from Tiger Base and other security personnel to intimidate community members and lawful occupants.
The rights group further alleged extortion of huge sums running into hundreds of millions of naira under the guise of security enforcement, harassment of residents, and a heightened risk of communal unrest.
Mrs. Ekeonugha is reportedly being held incommunicado, with family members and her lawyers denied access to her. The petition described the actions as clear violations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), and the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
RULAAC raised concerns over the alleged misuse of a tactical police unit to enforce private interests in a purely civil land dispute, describing it as an abuse of police powers and a dangerous erosion of public confidence in the force.
The group demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mrs. Ekeonugha or her prompt arraignment in court if there are lawful grounds for her detention.
It also called for:
*An independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances of her arrest, detention and alleged torture;
*Identification and sanctioning of all officers involved, especially those from Tiger Base, Owerri;
*Probe into alleged collusion between police officers and private individuals/public officials;
*Clear directives prohibiting the deployment of police personnel in civil disputes, particularly those already pending in court; and
*Protection for the victim, her family and members of the Umuoyima community from further harassment.
The petition warned that failure to act swiftly could further undermine the rule of law and encourage the use of security agencies for private gain.
