Chilling details have emerged of a private detention centre in Egwedu Autonomous Community, Atta, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, where a self-styled vigilante boss and his gang allegedly operate a private detention facility complete with human cages, extort market women, and have reportedly killed at least two young men in recent months.
NOHR investigation revealed that one Chibuike Duru, who goes by the alias “Nwagbenta,” is currently running what amounts to a criminal enterprise under the guise of community security, with allegations ranging from murder and torture to extortion and illegal weapons possession.
Nwamgbenta’s background is as volatile as his current operations. Investigations indicate he was formerly a commander for a pro-Biafra separatist armed group. After years as a fugitive, he reportedly returned to the community after striking a deal with Ebubeagu, a government-backed militia, to join the local vigilante and target separatist sympathizers. In the absence of formal police presence in the community , Duru has established a parallel justice system where he serves as judge, jury, and executioner.
In one case documented by NOHR, one Amaechi Duru, a businessman from the community, last year installed solar-powered street lights, valued at N150,000 each, around his compound and along the street leading to his house. The lights, which brought joy to area residents, allegedly angered Nwagbenta, whose house is located nearby.
Nwagbenta and his gang dismantled approximately fifteen of the street lights and took them to his house. When confronted by the community’s President-General, Nwagbenta allegedly refused to return them, claiming the lights were installed to monitor his activities and threatening that anyone who pressed the issue would “pay with their life.”
Investigation by NOHR paints a disturbing picture of daily operations at Afor Atta Market, where Nwagbenta and his gang allegedly extort money from market women with “damning brutality.” Women who refuse to pay are reportedly flogged or have their goods confiscated, regardless of their economic circumstances.
According to residents, Nwagbenta operates openly with AK-47 rifles and other weapons, settling disputes of all kinds, including civil and contractual matters, with his rulings being final under threat of severe consequences.
The “House of Death”: Torture and Illegal Detention
Perhaps most alarming are allegations that Nwagbenta maintains a human cage at his residence where he detains anyone who crosses him. His bail fees range from N300,000 to N1 million, and families must pay N5,000 simply to bring food to their detained loved ones. Residents who spoke to NOHR said Nwagbenta holds court daily in his house like a king where he treats all types of matters, including civil and contractual disputes, and his verdicts on any matter are final, except the person is ready to face his wrath, which could be death.
Victims describe his torture methods including severe physical lacerations, sleep deprivation, and mock executions. NOHR has seen gory pictures and videos of Nwagbenta victims including one Ifeanyi Nnadiemere who was tortured to death on January 27, 2026.
People in Egwedu community told NOHR that his captives were locked up for months for sundry allegations including land dispute, petty theft, assault, domestic dispute or suspicion of disloyalty to the gang. A man who reported that his wife was denying him sex was detained for over one month, according to a former captive.
Ifeanyi Nnadiemere, a 25 year old school leaver, was allegedly arrested by Nwagbenta and his gang for transferring money out of his mother’s bank account without her consent. He was then subjected to grievous torture until he died in their custody. The family was then reportedly invited to collect the corpse for burial. Earlier, on November 30, 2025, Chiedozie Awalie, a 37-year-old from Ubaokoro, Atta, was allegedly arrested in broad daylight in front of his father’s compound. Nwagbenta subsequently killed the young man and set his corpse ablaze. His father is identified as Mr. Tobias Awalie.
VICTIMS DETAINED IN CAGE
The case of Chinonso Moses Ejiofor, who was allegedly detained in the cage for approximately ten days from January 17 to January 26, 2026 shows the extreme brutality of Nwagbenta and his gang. During his detention, Chinonso’s mother was reportedly charged N5,000 each time she brought food, with a total bail demand of N300,000.
Chinonso was only released after intervention by a human rights lawyer. Upon release, Chinonso was allegedly warned never to speak about his ordeal, with Nwagbenta threatening that his mother would “surely lose her son” if the matter was escalated. Chinonso told NOHR that at the time of his detention, at least eight other persons were being held in the cage.
Human Rights Lawyers Petitioned Police, NHRC, Demand Immediate Action From Authorities
In a petition detailing the atrocities of Chibuike Duru, also known as Nwagbenta, a human rights activist and lawyer called for immediate intervention by the police authorities. In a petition, signed by Chubby Ikechukwu Obianyo, Esq., on behalf of J.U. Ijeoma & Associates, the lawyer called for the immediate arrest, investigation, and prosecution of Nwagbenta and his gang.
“The matter for which we write must be nipped in the bud before another gang of vicious terrorists that has emerged in Imo State would take firm roots and become a harder nut to crack,” the lawyers wrote, warning that the community has been “enveloped with fear” for more than a year. The petition was also copied to the National Human Rights Commission and the
The petition describes a community living under what amounts to a parallel system of justice, where one man and his armed gang operate with “despicable impunity,” flagrantly violating fundamental rights while law enforcement appears absent. “The kind of things one sees in horror movies are playing out in our client’s community with sickening impunity,” the lawyers stated, emphasizing that the accused operates in “utter disregard for the sanctity of human life.”
The petition concludes with an urgent appeal: “We must not allow people to carry on as if there are no laws regulating the conducts of men in our society.”
As of press time, there has been no public response from the Nigeria Police Force regarding the allegations. Attempts to reach Chibuike Duru for comment were unsuccessful.
