Amnesty International Nigeria has called on governors in the South-East, the Federal Ministry of Justice and security agencies to urgently investigate reported human rights violations and unlawful killings across the region.
The organisation made the call on Thursday in Umuahia, Abia State, during a town hall on human rights violations and accountability in the South-East, where it presented two reports, including “A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South-East Nigeria” and “Tiger Base of Atrocities: Human Rights Violations by Nigeria Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Owerri.”
Speaking at the event, Benedicta Ofili of Amnesty International Nigeria said the organisation had gathered stakeholders to confront what she described as “a bitter reality” marked by loss of lives, systemic silence and a prolonged struggle for justice in the region.
“We gather here in Abia State to confront a bitter reality. Following previous launches in Lagos and Enugu, we bring this vital conversation directly to Abia,” she said.
According to Ofili, the first report documented at least 1,844 deaths between 2021 and mid-2023 across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
She said the deaths occurred amid what Amnesty described as “a brutal crossfire involving non-state armed groups, state-backed outfits, and heavy-handed security operations.”
The organisation also documented alleged indiscriminate raids, enforced disappearances and unlawful killings, saying many of the incidents had not been followed by independent investigations or prosecutions.
“The cycle of impunity continues without thorough, independent investigations or prosecutions,” Ofili said.
She added that the insecurity had also caused displacement of farming communities, disrupted education and created what the organisation described as “ungoverned spaces,” with enforced sit-at-home orders further affecting residents.
Presenting the second report, Amnesty researcher Maurice Chukwu detailed alleged abuses at the Imo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as Tiger Base.
Chukwu alleged that the unit was linked to prolonged arbitrary detention, extortion, physical torture, deaths in custody and enforced disappearances, including cases where children were allegedly separated from detained mothers without official records.
“These actions directly violate the Nigerian Constitution, the Anti-Torture Act of 2017, and international human rights frameworks,” he said.
Chukwu called for investigations into all documented allegations, prosecution of suspects through fair trials and reparations for survivors and families of victims.
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