A blind man, Joseph Ottih, and his family have been subjected to unlawful persecution and harassment in Imo State over their traditional religious practices.
This is according to Amnesty International Nigeria that said Mr Ottih’s wife, Obiageri,(the couple pictured) and son, Uchenna, were being detained for their religious beliefs at Tiger Base, a police anti-kidnapping unit in Imo.
Amnesty said the police allegedly acting on petition from Mr Ottih’s Christian relatives raided his residence in December and forcefully removed his deity.
In the petition, according to the group’s account, Mr Ottih’s family claimed that his religious ways and objects were disturbing them spiritually and affecting negatively their peace and that of the entire community.
On that grounds the police operatives arrested Mr Ottih’s wife, Obiageri, on 3 January and detained her over the matter.
It was gathered that she was consequently granted bail on 7 January 2026 after Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW) intervened in the matter.
However, she was rearrested on 19 February when she reported at the police facility as part of the bail conditions.
Report has it that the police subsequently arrested the son, Uchenna, after he was lured to the police facility on the pretext of signing her mother’s bail bond for her release.
“In the absence of any legal basis, Tiger Base Police Unit has refused to charge the case to court; and instead kept them unlawfully detained and sustained serial extortion of the family.
“This is a clear case of religious persecution and corruption,” Amnesty said.
