OWERRI, Nigeria – An advocacy organisation has called on the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, to intervene in what it described as the continued harassment of a family in Oguta Local Government Area by a police unit operating in the state.
The call was made in an e-mailed statement issued by Leo Igwe on Monday, February 23 2026, who directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, an organisation that campaigns against abuses linked to accusations of witchcraft and religious persecution.
According to the statement, the case involves Joseph Ottih, a blind traditional religious practitioner from Oguta, whose wife and one of his sons are currently being held by police.
The advocacy group alleged that the detentions were based on fabricated accusations and that police actions against the family had continued for several months.
Police Actions Alleged
The group said that in December, officers attached to the Tigerbase police unit raided Ottih’s residence and removed religious objects, including what it described as an Agwu deity.
The action followed petitions from relatives identified as Vivian Ottih and Hilary Ottih, who, according to the statement, objected to Ottih’s traditional religious practices and claimed they were disturbing family and community peace.
In January, the statement said, police arrested Ottih’s wife, Obiageri, detained her for five days and released her after the family paid 150,000 naira.
The advocacy group further alleged that police have since detained Ottih’s son, Uchenna, seized Ottih’s mobile phone and attempted to arrest other children in the family.
The police unit has not publicly responded to the allegations, and no formal charges against the family were outlined in the statement.
Dispute Over Legal Process
According to the advocacy group, the Tigerbase unit has not brought the case before a court but has continued to summon members of the family.
The statement said Ottih and his lawyer had repeatedly requested that police either file charges or release those detained.
The group identified officers involved in the case as the officer in charge of the unit and the investigating officer, alleging that appeals to them had not resulted in court action or releases.
Call for Government Intervention
In the statement, the advocacy organisation urged Governor Uzodinma to instruct the police unit to halt what it described as unlawful detention, harassment and extortion.
It said the case raised broader concerns about religious freedom and the treatment of traditional religious practitioners.
The Imo State government and the Nigeria Police Force had not issued a public response to the claims as of the time of publication.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches said it was calling for the immediate release of the detained family members and for any allegations to be tested in court, in line with Nigerian law.
