The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the alleged unlawful arrest, incommunicado detention, enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing of Mr. Onuocha Johnbosco by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, popularly known as Tiger Base, in Owerri, Imo State.
In the petition dated June 17, 2025, and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, RULAAC said it was writing on behalf of the family of Johnbosco, an indigene of Umuoni, Ihiteafoukwu, in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
The petition, signed by RULAAC Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, alleged that Johnbosco was arrested on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at his place of business in Ekeziama, Ahiazu Mbaise, by unknown men who arrived in a white Sienna vehicle and posed as customers.
According to RULAAC, the men allegedly failed to identify themselves or disclose the purpose of their visit before suddenly handcuffing Johnbosco and whisking him away after shouting, “Catch him, na him.”
The organisation further alleged that the operatives looted equipment and documents from his office before leaving, and fired sporadically into the air to disperse community members who attempted to intervene.
RULAAC said that immediately after the incident, Johnbosco’s family reported the matter at the Ahiazu Mbaise Police Station, where officers reportedly informed them that no such arrest had been registered.
The group stated that the initial confusion and denial continued for days, while community members and witnesses suggested that the operatives might have come from Tiger Base in Owerri.
It added that from Monday, June 2, 2025, the family made repeated visits to several police formations in Imo State, including the State Criminal Investigation Department, Tiger Base and the State Command headquarters.
According to the petition, the family also paid ₦3,000 at the Police Control Room for an all-station alert, but no police division confirmed Johnbosco’s detention.
RULAAC said the family was shocked when, on June 4, 2025, they discovered an online publication by the Imo State Police Command dated June 3, alleging that Johnbosco was apprehended after a shoot-out with police officers and was found with items linked to IPOB/ESN.
The organisation rejected the police account, describing it as fabricated. It said several witnesses, including community members, had already attested that Johnbosco was taken away peacefully from his business premises without any shoot-out or violent incident.
RULAAC further alleged that despite repeated visits to Tiger Base by family members and legal counsel, including visits facilitated by radio journalist and human rights activist, Nonso Nkwa, the operatives continued to deny that Johnbosco was in their custody.
The petition claimed that the Investigating Police Officer later admitted to Nkwa that Johnbosco was indeed in their custody.
It further alleged that Tiger Base Commander Ola also reportedly admitted to Nkwa that Johnbosco was shot while attempting to escape and later died in police custody.
RULAAC, however, said Johnbosco’s body had not been produced, no official notification had been given to the family, and no investigation had been carried out into either the alleged killing or the earlier denials by the police.
The organisation also alleged contradictions in the account of Commander Ola, who reportedly admitted to Johnbosco’s father that his operatives raided and burned the family home on two occasions, but later told Nkwa that the arson was carried out by an angry community mob.
RULAAC said the family considers the conduct of the operatives of Tiger Base and the Imo State Police Command as a flagrant violation of Sections 33 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, which protect the right to life and personal liberty, as well as the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, Nigeria’s international human rights obligations, the Police Act, 2020, and the operational guidelines of the Nigeria Police Force.
The family, through RULAAC, demanded an immediate investigation by the IGP’s Monitoring Unit or the Force Criminal Investigation Department into the alleged unlawful arrest, incommunicado detention and extrajudicial killing of Johnbosco.
They also demanded disclosure of the whereabouts of his remains and the formal release of his body to the family for a dignified burial.
The petition further called for the prosecution of all police officers found to have been involved in the alleged unlawful abduction, detention, torture and killing of Johnbosco.