By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
A human rights advocacy group, Global Rights Nigeria, has demanded an independent investigation into the alleged torture and killing of Mr. Ernest Owoicho by soldiers attached to Operation Whirl Stroke in Benue State.
Owoicho, a father of two, was reportedly arrested without a warrant on Sunday, April 5, 2025, in Ugbokpo, Apa Local Government Area, and tortured in public for over two hours by military personnel. He later died from his injuries.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Executive Director of Global Rights, Mrs. Abiodun Baiyewu, described the incident as “barbaric and extrajudicial,” stressing that it violated both Nigerian law and international human rights standards.
“No reason or warrant was given for Mr. Owoicho’s arrest. He was severely beaten and tortured publicly by the soldiers for two hours, till he succumbed to his wounds and died. His arrest was never documented, no charges were filed, no evidence was presented, and no court heard his case. Instead, the military served as accuser, judge, and executioner—an unconscionable role in a democracy,”Baiyewu said.
She called on the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, and other oversight bodies to conduct a transparent investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
She added that the killing of Owoicho was a grim reminder of the dangers of militarizing internal security, appealing to the government to take urgent action. She warned that continued tolerance of extrajudicial killings could erode public trust in security institutions and fuel lawlessness among citizens