The human face of governance: Two governors, two responses to alleged police abuse
By Okechukwu Nwanguma
The true character of a government is often revealed not when everything is working well, but when citizens become victims of abuse by state institutions. How political leaders respond to allegations of injustice committed by security agencies under their watch says much about their commitment to the rule of law, accountability and the dignity of human life.
The contrasting responses of Governors Alex Chioma Otti and Hope Uzodimma to two strikingly similar cases of alleged criminal policing illustrate two very different approaches to governance.
Abia: Leadership that acknowledges citizens
The Chikadibia family’s experience in Abia State is a tragic story of alleged arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, prosecution without sufficient basis, demolition of their home, loss of property and, ultimately, the death of the family’s matriarch after the traumatic ordeal.
Rather than ignore the petition submitted by RULAAC, Governor Alex Otti acknowledged it and directed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to investigate the allegations and recommend appropriate action.
The Ministry of Justice did more than merely acknowledge receipt. It engaged constructively with RULAAC, requested additional information necessary for a proper review, invited the victims for a meeting, accommodated a request for more time to prepare documentation, explained delays in communication, and demonstrated a willingness to pursue restorative justice.
No one can yet say how the matter will eventually be resolved. However, the government’s response itself is significant. It recognizes that citizens deserve to be heard and that allegations against state agents warrant official attention rather than silence.
That is the human face of governance—not because justice has already been achieved, but because government has shown a willingness to listen, investigate and seek accountability.
Imo: Silence in the face of grave allegations
The case of Onuocha Johnbosco presents an even more disturbing picture.
According to his family, he was abducted in broad daylight from his business premises by armed men who neither identified themselves nor disclosed the reason for his arrest. Witnesses rejected later police claims that he was arrested after a gun battle.
For days, police authorities denied having him in custody. Eventually, according to the petition, Tiger Base officials reportedly admitted privately that he had died after being shot while allegedly attempting to escape.
Yet his body has never been released.
No official notification has been given to his family.
No transparent investigation has been announced.
No officer has been held accountable.
Instead, the family continues to seek answers while allegations of enforced disappearance, extrajudicial execution, destruction of property and official cover-up remain unresolved.
More troubling is that these allegations are not isolated. For years, RULAAC and other human rights organisations have documented recurring complaints involving Tiger Base and other special police units operating in Imo State—allegations of torture, secret detention, enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings and extortion.
Despite repeated petitions and public concern, there has been little indication of sustained intervention from the state government. This persistent silence has fuelled public perception that rogue policing thrives under political protection or, at the very least, official indifference.
Whether that perception is accurate or not, governments have a responsibility to dispel it through transparent action.
The difference
The difference is not that abuses occur in one state and not the other. Police misconduct is unfortunately a national problem.
The difference lies in leadership.
One governor treats petitions alleging abuse as matters deserving official attention and institutional response.
The other has, in these circumstances, appeared absent while allegations of some of the gravest human rights violations remain unanswered.
Government cannot always prevent every abuse by security personnel. But it can determine whether victims receive justice or are abandoned.
A governor who insists on investigation, accountability and remedy strengthens public confidence in government.
A governor who remains silent risks allowing impunity to flourish.
Beyond politics
This should not be viewed through a partisan lens. It is about constitutional governance.
Governors may not exercise operational control over the Nigeria Police Force, but they remain the chief security officers of their states in the eyes of the public. They possess significant moral and political influence. They can demand investigations, engage police authorities, support victims, activate state justice institutions and insist that human rights are respected.
Doing nothing also sends a message.
Conclusion
Justice begins with acknowledgement.
Governor Alex Otti’s response demonstrates that government can be responsive even where state institutions are not directly under its command. His administration’s engagement with the Chikadibia family’s case reflects an appreciation that governance must have a human face.
The continued silence surrounding the Onuocha Johnbosco case in Imo State raises difficult questions about accountability, transparency and the protection of citizens from abuses committed under the colour of state authority.
Ultimately, governments are remembered not by the speeches they make but by how they respond when ordinary citizens cry out for justice. On that measure, the contrast between Abia and Imo, as reflected in these two cases, is both stark and instructive.
Nwanguma is the Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC).
