Rights Group Slams Imo Police Over Release of Alleged Terror Kingpin 'Nwamgbenta,' Cites Extortion and Defiance of IGP Directives

Our Reporter 

ENUGU, NIGERIA — The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has strongly condemned the Imo State Police Command for the controversial release of Chibuike Duru (popularly known as "Nwamgbenta"), the alleged leader of a notorious torture chamber and terror gang operating in the Atta-Njaba region of Imo State.

In a sharply worded statement released to journalists in Enugu on Wednesday, the human rights organization demanded the immediate re-arrest, thorough investigation, and prosecution of Duru and his gang members. 

The group alleges that the syndicate has been responsible for a wave of violent crimes since 2023, including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, torture, enforced disappearances, extortion, and the operation of illegal detention camps.

A Pattern of Arrests and Short-Lived Detentions

According to Intersociety, Duru was first taken into custody by the Imo State Police Command on Thursday, May 14, 2026, but was released hours later without a comprehensive inquiry. The rights group claimed a senior police official went so far as to tell a media reporter that the suspect "works for us" and for local politicians, advising the complainants to "make peace" and seek compensation instead.

Dissatisfied with the command's handling of the matter, the petitioners—represented by the law firm of J.U. Ijeoma & Associates—appealed directly to the Commissioner of Police for Imo State, CP Audu Garba Bosso. Consequently, the case file was reassigned from the Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU), led by SUPOL Martins Emerem, to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), overseen by AC Dan Iroakazi and team leader SUPOL Cosmos Anyanwu.

Following this transfer, Duru was re-arrested on Thursday, May 21, 2026. However, by the evening of Saturday, May 23, 2026, he was reportedly freed once again on executive orders.

Intersociety noted that by the early morning of Sunday, May 24, celebratory gunfire erupted in Duru’s hometown of Egwedu Autonomous Community in Atta, Njaba Local Government Area. Flanked by armed associates and political backers, the suspect has reportedly issued death threats against witnesses, survivors, and petitioners, sparking widespread panic among local residents.

Horrific Allegations of a Parallel Justice System

The allegations against Duru paint a grim picture of unchecked tyranny. A May 20, 2026 report by the Nigerian Observatory for Human Rights (NOHR) identified Duru as a former commander within a counterfeit pro-Biafra armed group. Upon returning to his community, he allegedly struck a deal with the state-backed Ebubeagu militia, establishing a parallel justice system in the absence of formal policing.

Operating openly with AK-47 rifles, Duru allegedly built a human cage at his residence to detain, starve, and torture local citizens. Petitioners allege that the gang demanded illegal bail fees ranging from ₦300,000 to over ₦1 million, while charging desperate families ₦5,000 just to deliver food to detained relatives.

Specific atrocities linked to the gang include:

The Murder of Chiedozie Awalie (37): Arrested in broad daylight in front of his father’s compound on November 30, 2025, Awalie was reportedly killed and his corpse set ablaze. His father, Tobias Awalie, stands as a primary witness.

The Torture-Death of Ifeanyi Nnadiemere (25): Died in Duru’s custody on January 27, 2026, after being locked up for allegedly transferring money from his mother's account without consent. Photo and video evidence reviewed by NOHR show injuries consistent with severe torture.

The Unlawful Detention of Chinonso Moses Ejiofor: Held in the cage for ten days in January 2026, Ejiofor was released only after a human rights lawyer intervened, receiving a chilling warning from Duru that his mother would "lose her son" if he spoke out.

Accusations of High-Level Complicity and Extortion

Intersociety further accused the Imo State Police Command of actively flouting directives issued by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) under reference "CB: 7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.968/8," dating back to February 5, 2026. The group stated that "invisible hands" within the force caused the initial case files to disappear, forcing the legal team to secure a fresh approval on March 18, 2026—yet no meaningful investigation has been conducted in the 120 days since.

The rights group also exposed rampant financial exploitation surrounding the case, estimating that petitioners have spent at least ₦1.5 million out of pocket. This includes approximately ₦1 million paid to police officers via unrecorded cash transactions and off-base Point-of-Sale (POS) operators for the "mobilization" of investigating teams, alongside ₦500,000 spent transporting indigent survivors to the State CID to give statements.

"If an IGP-directed case can be compromised and commercialized like this, what is the fate of ordinary citizens?" the statement questioned, warning that unrecorded extortions are shielding high-profile criminals and resulting in watery crime reports across the country.

Next Steps and Political Backers

Intersociety revealed that it is actively tracing the names of local politicians and the helmsman of the Njaba Local Government Area, who is accused of acting as a bail surety for Duru and providing the gang shelter at the LGA headquarters. 

The group warned that it is strongly considering withdrawing the case from the state entirely and transferring it to the Force Headquarters in Abuja to ensure an untainted investigation.

Under Section 34(5) of the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the group noted that suspects of violent crimes can legally be remanded for up to 60 days to allow for deep investigations based on circumstantial and testimonial evidence.

The press statement was jointly signed by Intersociety executive leadership: Emeka Umeagbalasi (Board Chairman), Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Esq. (Head of Department), Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, Esq. (Head of Department), and Comrade Samuel Kamanyoku (Deputy Head, Data Collection & Documentation).