Stop Torture Campaign: Moses's Story

Do you remember being 16 and finishing your secondary school exams? Do you remember waiting for your results, looking to the future, eagerly wondering what life would hold for you?

What if the answer was torture, imprisonment and a death sentence?

On 27 November 2005 Moses Akatugba was a 16-year-old boy, waiting for the results of his exams. Then he was arrested by the Nigerian army and his life changed forever.

Moses has described being tortured by the Nigerian army - he says he was shot in the hand, beaten on the head and back, and then charged with stealing mobile phones. After being arrested he was first held at the local army barracks. He says that while there the soldiers showed him a corpse. When he couldn't identify the dead man they beat him.

Moses was then transferred to Epkan police station in Delta State and tortured again. He said police beat him severely with machetes and batons, tied him up and hung him for several hours in interrogation rooms, and used pliers to pull out his finger and toe nails, to force him to sign two confessions.

In February 2014 Moses said: 'The pain of torture is unbearable. I never thought I would be alive till this day. The pain I went through in the hands of the officers was unimaginable. In my whole life, I have never been subjected to such inhuman treatment.'

Although Nigeria's constitution prohibits torture, no provisions are made for the investigation or prosecution of acts for torture. 'Confessions' extracted by torture are regularly used as evidence in court, contrary to both national and international law.

In Moses's case, he was convicted solely on the basis of the victim's statement and 'confessions' he made under duress. After eight years in prison he was sentenced to death by hanging.

Today Moses remains on death row. His claims of torture have still not been investigated.

Take Action

Amnesty International is calling on the Governor of Delta State to hold an investigation into Moses's allegations of torture and commute his death sentence. You can download a sample letter to send to the Governor below.

Please also send a message to Moses, a short solidarity message can make a big difference to him, and let him know that people around the world are thinking of him and supporting his struggle for justice. You can send messages to:

Moses Akatugba

C/o Amnesty International UK

17-25 New Inn Yard

London EC2A 3EA

and they will be passed on to Moses.