Investigations and testimonies gathered by SaharaReporters indicate that despite the public announcement of reforms, the controversial facility in Owerri continues to operate under substantially the same leadership associated with years of allegations involving torture, enforced disappearances, illegal detention, extortion and extrajudicial killings.
The decision by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to disband the controversial Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command, popularly known as Tiger Base, and replace it with a new tactical formation called the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), has sparked fresh controversy amid allegations that the same commanders, operatives and operational structure remain firmly in place.
Investigations and testimonies gathered by SaharaReporters indicate that despite the public announcement of reforms, the controversial facility in Owerri continues to operate under substantially the same leadership associated with years of allegations involving torture, enforced disappearances, illegal detention, extortion and extrajudicial killings.
Security sources allege that ACP Oladimeji Adeyeyiwa, popularly known as “Ola,” who headed Tiger Base during the period many of the alleged abuses occurred, still retains operational control over the newly created VCRU structure.
