By Sunday Apah
The National President of the Committee for Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Dr. Kehinde Prince Taiga, has urged Inspector General of Police (IGP) Olukayode Egbetokun to take decisive action against officers from the Nigeria Police Force deployed from Abuja.
These officers are accused of fatally shooting two police officers and three local youths amid an ongoing land dispute in the Okpanam area of Oshimili North Local Government Area in Delta State.
The land ownership conflict, which has persisted since 2021, dates back to when CP Ari Muhammed Ali, now an Assistant Inspector General, served as the Delta State Commissioner of Police.
The issue escalated recently as officers were sent from Abuja to intimidate members of the opposing faction, believed to be backed by a powerful cartel known for employing security forces to suppress legitimate land claimants.
Expressing deep concern over the lack of resolution despite numerous petitions submitted to IGP Egbetokun by legal representatives and civil society organizations, Taiga highlighted fears that these grievances may not be reaching the IGP’s attention.
In a statement released in Warri, Taiga called for the immediate prosecution of all involved police personnel, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the situation to prevent further violence in the community.
He also demanded the arrest of a key suspect in the land dispute, identified as Ogidi, known in surrounding areas for his role in multiple land grabbing incidents.
Taiga accused Ogidi of hiring police officers to harass and intimidate legitimate property owners, thereby preventing them from developing their lands.
He described the recent violence, which resulted in the deaths of two police officers and three local youths, as a direct consequence of this ongoing conflict.
He shared the harrowing experiences of local residents, including Mr. Chinedu Ifuani, who recounted his own ordeal with police allegedly acting on Ogidi’s orders. Ifuani detailed his wrongful arrest and the physical abuse he endured, asserting that Ogidi has consistently manipulated law enforcement to intimidate community members.
Others, like Mr. Iyke Dike, also shared their troubling experiences. Dike explained how disputes over land ownership escalated into violence, with Ogidi allegedly leading attacks against those asserting their rights.
He recounted a traumatic incident where police officers, under Ogidi’s influence, forcibly dismantled his property while threatening him and his associates.
Dike’s narrative underscored a broader pattern of abuse, where local law enforcement appears complicit in the intimidation and violence fostered by Ogidi and his network.
He lamented that despite numerous reports to the authorities, justice remains elusive, with evidence often dismissed or mishandled.
The CDHR is calling on the IGP to ensure a thorough investigation into the killings and the ongoing crisis in Okpanam, urging immediate action to restore safety and justice for the community members affected by these violent land disputes.
