Armed policemen stationed on a disputed property in the Alaka area of Lagos State allegedly threatened landowners who arrived to inspect the site, in apparent disregard of a court order mandating the withdrawal of all security personnel.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 25, when the landowners embarked on a routine inspection of the site following a judicial directive ordering the withdrawal of officers from the land.
The landowners, who arrived in high spirits, began inspecting their individual plots, taking photographs, recording videos, and discussing plans to commence development. However, the visit took a tense turn when armed policemen confronted them, questioned their presence, and allegedly threatened to shoot at them.
Speaking to journalists, one of the landowners, Taiwo Bello, described the encounter as disturbing and questioned why officers entrusted with protecting citizens would remain on land that a court had ordered them to vacate.
Bello said the inspection was significant for many owners who had been unable to access the property for an extended period. She added that the continued presence of armed officers on the site, in defiance of a subsisting court order, raises serious concerns about compliance with judicial directives.
She called on the current Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, to enforce discipline within the force by ensuring that officers comply strictly with court rulings and established directives.
Another landowner Gabari Samuel, also questioned what he described as a culture of impunity that allows officers to disregard both court orders and directives from the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.
It will be recalled that the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had publicly warned that police officers found escorting parties for land recovery operations would face disciplinary action, stressing that such assignments were not part of the constitutional responsibilities of the Force and could bring the institution into disrepute.
