The Imo State Police Command has dismissed as false and misleading a social media report alleging that operatives of its Anti-Kidnapping Unit, also known as Tiger Base, tortured a terror suspect, Magnus Ejiogu, to death while in custody.
The command described the allegation as "false, unfounded, and deliberately aimed at maligning the image of the Nigeria Police Force."
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, made the development known in a statement released on Sunday in Owerri.
He said the deceased, popularly known as Emu, aged 49, hailed from Obudi Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area (LGA) and was identified as a major financier and sponsor of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Okoye stated that Ejiogu was implicated in several violent attacks, including the assassination of Eze Ignatius Asor, the traditional ruler of Abudi Agwa in 2022, and the attack on Agwa Police Station the same year, during which five police officers, including a pregnant woman, were killed.
According to the police spokesman, investigation into Ejiogu’s case had been concluded, and the file approved for prosecution on Monday, October 20, 2025, however, his arraignment was delayed due to the ongoing warning strike by the judiciary.
"On 23rd October, 2025, while awaiting arraignment, the suspect suddenly took ill. He was immediately rushed to the Police Clinic, Amakohia, and later referred to the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH), Owerri, for further medical attention. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, a qualified practitioner confirmed him dead," Okoye said.
He added that the remains of the suspect have been deposited at the hospital mortuary for a full autopsy to determine the exact medical cause of death.
Okoye maintained that at no time was the suspect tortured, maltreated, or denied access to his family or legal representative, insisting that all actions taken were in line with professional policing ethics and due process.
For transparency, he said the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, had directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to investigate and establish the precise cause of death.
"The command strongly condemns sensational and unverified reports that seek to undermine public confidence in law enforcement.
"We remain committed to justice, professionalism, and accountability in the discharge of our constitutional duties," he said.
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