… Accuses police of aiding and abetting
The family of Adesada Oganjugbe in Igboye Town, Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Epe, Lagos, has sent a save-our-souls to the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) Global Resource Initiative), and the government to save them from the hands of a land grabber .
The family also pleaded with the right group and the governor to recover their property as the land grabber has swooped on the family land in Epe,and threatened to deal with them.
The family alleged that the police division in Noforija was not doing enough to curtail the excesses of the land grabber, but seemed to be taking sides with them.
The community elders, including the Bale (Community Chief head), alleged that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Noforija Division, CSP Gregory Ikpehkia, is a friend to the accused land grabber and has been using his office to support the ongoing oppression and injustice against their family.
They further accused the DPO of alleged involvement in a recent attack on some members of family.
CSP Ikpehkia, however, denied the allegation of supporting the land grabber.
A petition by the community leaders to Human Rights Monitors further alleged that the DPO is a friend to the alleged land grabber and provided him with security personnel whenever he was to harass the legitimate family on their properties.
Head of Adesada Oganjugbe family, Mr. Oluwatosin Emmanuel Adewunmi, said the DPO now openly supports the land grabber .
The petition reads in part,”we are disappointed that a community DPO, who is supposed to be in charge of security of lives and property is now giving aiding and abetting a known land grabber against our family members.
“The latest attack was carried out on us by more than seven Policemen from the division, who came to burgle our houses around 2:00am on Monday, November 20, 2023, which was the date we were to be in court over our petition to Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan ,on threat to lives and malicious damages.
“We witnessed the Patrol Van of the Division stationed outside our houses, while the policemen broke our doors and forced themselves inside our houses.
“The threat, harassment and intimidation have since made our wives and children to desert the houses since November 20, 2023, due to fear of being attacked.
“Our community is gradually becoming restless. It was a peaceful environment until we saw a bulldozer that entered our village and started destroying our properties with complete backing by the DPO of the Community, who is fully aware that the matter is in Zone 2.
“We appeal to the Human Rights Community and the government to please assist us”.
CSP Ikpehkia, however denied the allegations of aiding and abetting a land grabber, saying,”our work is to provide security; secure lives and property of the people. I am aware that we are not supposed to intervene in land matters, except when it is degenerating to direct attack and restlessness within the community.
“I am, however, determined to report the lawyer that wrote petition with false allegation to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)”, he said.