Land grabbing: CDHR urges IGP to launch independent investigation into alleged police complicity

Nathan Tamarapreye

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to launch an independent investigation into the activities of some police officers at the Force Headquarters over an alleged case of land grabbing in Okpanam in Asaba, Delta State.

The National President of the CDHR, Dr. Kehinde Taiga, made the call on Wednesday while addressing journalists at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents Chapel.

Taiga said that some police officers allegedly acted in the Legal Department. This action undermined the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force. The officers’ names have been withheld.

He demanded justice in the long-standing land dispute in Asaba. He sought accountability in the conflict between the Okpanam people and Mr Ekwe-Ogbidi Integrated Resources Limited.

According to him, the land dispute has led to crisis, alleged death and untold hardship and destruction in the community.

“For the past four years, the Okpanam people have endured relentless intimidation, harassment and destruction of properties worth millions of Naira.

“Despite numerous appeals and formal complaints to the police, justice remains elusive, which is a result of alleged entrenched corruption within the Police Force,” he said.

Taiga emphasised that land disputes were civil matters and that the involvement of Police officers allegedly taking sides on this matter, particularly those acting outside their legal mandate, obviously undermined the rule of law and violated the constitutional rights of citizens.

He stressed that the police, who were entrusted with the responsibility of protecting justice, have instead become tools in the hands of land speculators.

“We strongly condemn the abuse of police power to support some people to illegally acquire land, a situation that has caused severe unrest in Okpanam Community, Asaba.

“The role of the police is to uphold justice and to protect the lives and property of citizens, not to allegedly collaborate with land grabbers for personal gain.

“CDHR calls on the IGP to institute an immediate and thorough investigation into the activities of the O/C Legal, Force Headquarters, Abuja, and other officers whose conduct undermines the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force and threatens public trust and safety,” he said.

Taiga commended the Commissioner of Police (CP), Delta State Command, Abaniwonda Olufemi, for standing firm against the unlawful mission.

He said that the CP had demonstrated true leadership. He showed integrity by refusing to allow external pressure to compromise peace. The rule of law in Delta State remained intact.

The CDHR national president emphatically demanded an immediate investigation into the conduct of all implicated police officers from Force Headquarters. This includes O/C Legal Abuja. These officers are being scrutinized for the abuse of power and unlawful interference.

He also called for the prosecution of all individuals involved, including any other officers found to have facilitated land grabbing.

Taiga called for the restoration of all destroyed properties and adequate compensation to the victims.

He also sought the immediate reinstatement of case No. CMA/334c/2024, which, according to him, was wrongly struck out.