There was uneasy calm in Owerri, the Imo State capital, as family members and associates of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, former Commissioner in the first term of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, expressed anxiety over his fate. Ihekweme has spent 61 days in Tiger Base, a police detention center in Owerri notorious for politically motivated arrests, torture, inhumane treatment, extortion, and enforced disappearances.
Ihekweme’s family and associates are uneasy as his whereabouts remain uncertain, even as a mysterious letter began circulating on social media early yesterday with no verifiable source. Pro-Uzodimma community newspapers and social media apologists are sharing the letter across platforms.
Efforts to ascertain the veracity of the letter met a stonewall as the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, refused to respond to calls or SMS inviting him to react to the letter and confirm Ihekweme’s whereabouts. Additionally, calls to several human rights civil society organizations could not confirm whether Ihekweme is still incarcerated or has been released.
In the handwritten letter dated January 27, 2025, Ihekweme admitted that all the articles he wrote against Uzodimma were fabricated lies with malicious intent and tendered an unreserved apology to Uzodimma, promising never to engage in such behavior again. He also commended the police for their professionalism in investigating the matter.
Ihekweme, a former governorship candidate who later joined forces with Uzodimma in the 2019 governorship election and was appointed a commissioner, parted ways with the governor after Uzodimma’s 2023 re-election. He became a vocal critic of Uzodimma’s administrative style, calling for transparency and accountability in governance in Imo State.
Ihekweme was reportedly detained at his Abuja residence on November 27, in the presence of his family, and transported to Owerri, according to human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju. Adeyanju criticized the increasing clampdown on dissent, warning that such actions undermine democratic principles.
Ihekweme’s detention has ignited public backlash, with activists and political commentators accusing Governor Uzodimma’s administration of stifling opposition. A coalition of 13 Civil Society Organizations based in Imo State urged Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to take decisive action against rogue elements within the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (Tiger Base) and SID in Imo State to ensure police integrity and prevent state repression.
AT Reporter