The Torture Virus: BBC Africa Eye exposes torture being used by Nigerian Security Agencies
An investigation by BBC Africa Eye has uncovered shocking evidence that torture is being used by multiple branches of the Nigerian police and armed forces.
Images from social media show that a particular form of torture – a technique known as ‘tabay’- is widely used in the interrogation and punishment of detainees, including children.
This investigation also reveals that in 2014, a senior police officer from SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad), was found in a civil court case to have been involved in the torture of a young man who later died from his injuries. When approached by Africa Eye he declined to comment.
A serving police officer confirmed to the BBC the use of torture by SARS and recounted the daily abuse he witnessed in special cells within police stations used to extract confessions. He said: “If you refuse to talk, you are taken in there. You will talk. Some offenders begin speaking the moment they’re tied up. Some start talking when the torture is underway.”
The investigation features two young boys who were tortured by members of a government-backed vigilante group in northern Nigeria in 2019. One of the boys, Abba Bashir, says: “When they were doing this to me, I wished I was dead. I felt it would be better to be shot with a gun.”
Torture is illegal in Nigeria, banned by the anti-torture act of 2017. But Nigerian human rights lawyer Justus Ijeoma told the BBC that, despite these laws, torture remains rampant: “I am not aware of any prosecution under the anti-torture act. Prosecution, let alone conviction…We cannot fold our arms and look the other way while our society keeps degenerating.”
One of the most widely used torture techniques is called ‘tabay’, in which the arms are forced back and tied at the elbows, cutting circulation to the hands and immobilising the victim. The most violent variation of this technique, according to the police eye-witness, is known as ‘the bicycle ride’ and is routinely used in at least one SARS station. The victims are tied to a chair with their hands and legs bound from behind, before being beaten and electrocuted.
In other cases of torture by members of the Nigerian security forces, documented on video, victims are suspended with their legs and hands constrained and heavyweights are placed on their backs to increase the pain. The programme reports that ‘tabay’ torture dates back to ancient times and is still used in Nigeria today.
The Nigerian police did not respond to requests from Africa Eye for comment.
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Military reacts
Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachuku, said he was yet to see the BBC documentary but promised that the army authorities would investigate the issue.
“It is an indisputable fact that Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) have over a period of time embarked on series of propaganda to bring the Armed Forces of Nigeria into disrepute. On many occasions BHTs have carried out their nefarious activities wearing Nigerian military uniforms, either to deceive unsuspecting members of the public or to carry out certain actions to cast aspersion on the Armed Forces of Nigeria. We have instances of BHTs and kidnappers dressed in military uniform carrying out executions of civilians and video recording these dastardly acts, which they release into the public domain to portray the military in bad light and whip up negative public sentiment against our troops. A recent incident was an abduction that took place along Yobe/Maiduguri road by BHTs dressed in military uniform.
“Though this headquarters has not been availed of the said videos mentioned in your letter, we, however, assure that they will be subjected to critical examination to ascertain their veracity and, where it is confirm that our troops are involved in such unprofessional conducts, appropriate disciplinary measures and sanctions will be applied, in conformity with extant laws.
“Additionally, efforts have been intensified in the area of pre-deployment induction training given to troops before they are launched into operational areas, where refresher training on rules of engagement, law of armed conflicts and other humanitarian laws are inculcated into them.
“Furthermore, the Armed Forces of Nigeria has also established human rights desks across the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and Defence Headquarters where cases of human rights abuses are thoroughly investigated and those found culpable are sanctioned, in accordance with the law. We also deploy legal officers to the theatre of operations, where troops are constantly sensitised on global best practices in armed conflicts situation and protection of civilians in conflict.”
“The AFN does not condone unprofessional conduct by its troops in the ongoing military operations in the North East and other parts of the country. Court martials are instituted in the theatre of operations where troops involved in unprofessional conduct have been tried and punished according to extant laws.
“While thanking you for your letter, it is expedient to use this opportunity to call on members of the public to endeavour to provide evidence regarding unprofessional conduct of troops to the AFN and be assured that such evidence will be treated within the ambit of the law”.
