The Committee for the Defence of Human Right (CDHR) has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to launch an independent investigation into activities of some police officers at the Force Headquarters over 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 the alleged action of some police officers in the Legal Department (names with held) undermined the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force.

He, therefore, demanded for justice and accountability in the long-standing land dispute in Asaba 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, this is obviously as a result of alleged entrenched corruption within the Police Force,” he said.

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

He stressed that the police who were entrusted with the responsibility of protecting justice, have instead became 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 call 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 undermine 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 and integrity by refusing to allow external pressure to compromise peace and the rule of law in Delta State.

The CDHR national president emphatically demanded immediate investigation into the conduct of all implicated police officers from Force Headquarters, including O/C Legal Abuja 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 for the immediate reinstatement of case No. CMA/334c/2024 which according to him was wrongly struck out.