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A disturbing pattern continues to unfold across Nigeria that undermines the rule of law, erodes public trust and places citizens, especially young people, at constant risk. Extrajudicial killings by the police are no longer isolated incidents. They are symptoms of a deeper institutional crisis, rooted in impunity, weak oversight and a culture that too often rewards abuse over accountability.
The recent cases of Imo and Delta States illustrate this crisis with chilling clarity.
In Imo State, the now infamous Anti-Kidnapping Unit – popularly known as “Tiger Base” – has become the emblem of a policing system gone rogue.
The case of Onuoha Johnbosco reflects a familiar script: arrest without due process, denial of custody, conflicting official narratives and, finally, a death shrouded in secrecy. The desperate search for his family was met with institutional silence and deception, only for authorities to later claim he was involved in a firefight – a claim contradicted by eyewitness accounts of a peaceful arrest in a public market.
Even more worrying is the police’s refusal or inability to show his body. This is not simply a procedural error; raises the specter of enforced disappearances – one of the most serious violations under both Nigerian and international law.
Johnbosco’s case is not an anomaly. It fits into a larger pattern at Tiger Base, where detainees reportedly “try to escape,” “get sick,” or “die in hospital” — recurring explanations that defy credibility and require independent examination.
Likewise, the case of Japheth Njoku reveals how the mechanism of concealment works. While in police custody, his family was denied access even as officers allegedly continued to extort money under the guise of providing healthcare. When the medical examiner ordered an autopsy, the police reportedly failed to produce the body, effectively sabotaging the judicial process.
In Delta State, the killing of Mene Ogidi represents yet another proof of Nigeria’s commitment to justice. The circumstances of his death – particularly the unresolved questions about the alleged firearms-related consignment note and the late emergence of video evidence – suggest either investigative incompetence or deliberate obfuscation. The continued lack of transparency, including the identity of the officers involved, reinforces public suspicion that the system is once again circling the wagons.
These cases are linked not only by their findings, but by the patterns they reveal:
– Arbitrary arrests and incommunicado detention
– Torture and forced confessions
– Fabrication or manipulation of evidence
– Extrajudicial executions disguised as lawful force
– Systematic cover-ups and shifting narratives
At the heart of this crisis is a fundamental breakdown in accountability. While Nigeria has a robust legal framework – including the Constitution, the Police Act 2020, the Anti-Torture Act 2017 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act – these laws are routinely ignored or circumvented by those tasked with enforcing them.
The principle is simple: the police have no legal authority to determine guilt or administer punishment. This responsibility lies exclusively with the courts. When agents take on the role of judge, jury, and executioner, they don’t just violate individual rights, they undermine the very foundations of democratic government.
Nigeria has seen this before. The 2005 Apo Six murders highlighted the ease with which innocent citizens can be labeled criminals and executed, only for the truth to emerge years later through a thorough defense and judicial investigation. The case remains a stark reminder that without accountability, the line between law enforcement and lawlessness can quickly disappear.
Today that line is once again dangerously blurred.
What makes the current situation even more alarming is the normalization of these abuses. Communities expect illegal arrests, extortion and violence as part of routine policing. In places like Nekede, Imo State, students are regularly targeted in night raids: searched, detained and forced to pay for their freedom under the guise of “bail”. Such practices not only violate the law; they reinforce a predatory model of policing that treats citizens as sources of income rather than rights holders.
This is unsustainable.
A police force that is feared rather than trusted cannot effectively prevent crime. Intelligence dries up. Community cooperation disappears. And insecurity thrives in the void.
If Nigeria wants to break this cycle, incremental responses will not be enough. What is needed is a decisive shift towards transparency, accountability and respect for human rights.
First, all allegations of extrajudicial killings must be investigated by independent bodies, not just the police. The Police Service Commission and the National Human Rights Commission must enforce their mandates without fear or favour.
Secondly, there must be complete public transparency in cases involving loss of life. The identities of the officers under investigation, the status of the proceedings and the results must not be shrouded in secrecy.
Third, command accountability must be strengthened. Senior officers cannot continue to avoid responsibility for abuses committed under their watch.
Fourth, victims and their families must be guaranteed access to justice, including the right to know the fate of their loved ones, to obtain autopsies and to pursue compensation without intimidation.
Finally, there must be consequences. Without prosecution and sanctions, reforms remain rhetorical and impunity persists.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Every extrajudicial killing sends a message – not only to the victims, but to society at large – that the law can be suspended at will. Over time, this undermines the legitimacy of the state itself.
Nigeria finds itself at a crossroads. It can continue on a path where abuse is denied, evidence is hidden and justice is postponed. Or it can choose a different path, one in which the rule of law is respected, institutions strengthened and those who abuse power are held to account.
The choice should be clear.
Justice must not be optional. Responsibility does not have to be selective. And the lives of Nigerians must never be expendable.
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