The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has again called on Inspector General of Police Baba Akali to ensure a thorough investigation of allegations of organ harvesting and rights violations involving two police formations in Anambra State. Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma made the appeal during the Anambra Police Stakeholders Partnership Forum in Awka on Friday. The forum was designed to bring together the group, family members and relatives of victims who claim to have suffered police abuse in the state.
A whistleblower has implicated officers from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Annex, formerly known as Awkuzu SARS, and Zone 13 Headquarters in Ukpo in illegal detention, kidnappings, extrajudicial killings and human organ harvesting. In response, the IGP established a panel to investigate the claims. Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo also directed the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to review all case files handled by the accused formations. However, months after the panel’s formation was announced by Force PRO Muyiwa Adejobi, no information has emerged, prompting concern among civil‑society groups.
Speaking at the forum, Nwanguma expressed alarm that more than a month has passed since the allegations were made without any update on the investigation’s progress or findings. He urged that RULAAC be allowed to meet with the IGP’s investigation team to monitor the process and ensure that the human‑rights abuses are not ignored. Making the findings public, he argued, would reassure the public that the police are allies and that lessons from the #EndSARS movement have been learned. “It is unfortunate that the issues that gave rise to #EndSARS are still happening today—unlawful arrests, illegal detention, extortion and disappearances,” he said. “In Anambra, there are reports of organ harvesting by the RRS and serious human‑rights abuse by Zone 13 Headquarters. Yet nothing has been heard, and some of the accused have returned to duty. I appreciate the IGP for setting up an investigative panel, but we are worried by its silence; we want to meet with them and work together.”
Nwanguma emphasized that respect for human rights is a non‑negotiable minimum for policing a civilized society. Victims’ families present at the meeting urged civil society to help uncover the disappearances of their loved ones, recounting how their children were taken from their homes and have not returned for about a year.
Chris Azor, coordinator of the Police Stakeholders Partnership Forum in Anambra, explained that the forum aims to foster greater synergy between the community and the police. He affirmed that civil society will continue to gather quality feedback to improve police performance while ensuring that human‑rights cases are investigated and punished. Azor commended RULAAC for organizing the interface and noted that the issues raised would be escalated to the police for appropriate action and remedies.
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