Family seeks inquest into death of Imo resident in Police custody
Crime/Social Justice
Owerri, Imo – The family of Mr. Magnus Ejiogu, a resident of Imo State, has called for an urgent inquest into his death, which they allege occurred under suspicious circumstances while he was in the custody of the notorious Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Nigerian Police Force, commonly known as 'Tiger Base.'
The plea, detailed in a petition filed with the Chief Coroner of the Imo State High Court, accuses the police unit of torturing Ejiogu to death, sparking outrage and demands for justice.
According to the petition, filed by legal representative Kevin C. Uzozie of Kevin Uzozie & Co., Ejiogu, a transporter from the Obudi Agwa community in Oguta Local Government Area, was arrested on September 23, 2023, at Control, Owerri, while conducting his business.
The family claims he was a healthy man at the time of his arrest but was subjected to continuous torture during his detention, leading to his violent and unnatural death. The petition further alleges that the police denied Ejiogu bail, barred his family and lawyers from accessing him, and failed to present him before a court for any offense.
The family was reportedly unaware of Ejiogu’s deteriorating condition, learning of his death only on October 27, 2025—four days after his body was allegedly deposited at a mortuary on October 23.
The discrepancy between the mortuary records and the police’s account has fueled suspicions of a cover-up.
The petition highlights that Ejiogu’s wife, Mrs. Chinyere Magnus Ejiogu, was informed of his death by the Police Homicide Division, with no prior notification of his illness or condition.
The Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Global Defence Consortium (MNGDC) has labeled Ejiogu’s death a “state-sanctioned custodial murder,” dismissing the police’s claim that he died of illness as a “criminal cover-up.”
The consortium, in a statement signed by Barrister Christopher Chidera, asserts that the label of “IPOB sponsor”—allegedly applied to Ejiogu by the police—has become a pretext for extrajudicial killings in Nigeria.
The group demands an independent autopsy, release of detention records, and prosecution of the officers involved.
The family’s petition echoes these concerns, describing Ejiogu’s death as “sudden, painful, and unnatural” and requesting a coroner’s inquest under Section 6 of the Coroner Law of Imo State to establish the true cause of death.
They argue that the police’s actions, including the delay in informing the family and the lack of medical evidence, necessitate a thorough investigation.
The Imo State Police Command, through Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ola, head of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, has denied the allegations, insisting that the unit does not engage in torture or extrajudicial killings.
ACP Ola stated, “We are protecting the people. Our hands are clean in this case,” and noted that the family and their lawyer are engaging with the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Owerri.
The 'Tiger Base' unit has a controversial reputation, with previous reports linking it to human rights violations and custodial deaths.
This incident has reignited debates about police accountability, particularly in cases involving detainees labeled as pro-Biafran activists.
The case has drawn attention to systemic issues within Nigeria’s police force, including the use of the “IPOB” label as a “death warrant” and the lack of due process for detainees.
The MNGDC warned that such incidents reflect a “kill-on-suspicion” policy tacitly endorsed by the government, urging an end to state-approved profiling and extermination of citizens.
As the family awaits the Chief Coroner’s response, the incident has sparked widespread condemnation and a demand for transparency.
