Lagos family petitions IG, accuses police of shielding alleged land grabbers

n n

The Olarinde Royal Family of Oguntedo Village, Satellite Town, Lagos State, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, accusing some officers of the Lagos State Police Command of abuse of power, intimidation and alleged collusion with land grabbers.

n

The petitioners also alleged that the officers frustrated investigations into violent attacks on members of the family and used police authority to harass and intimidate them.

n

The family had staged a protest at The PUNCH Place in July 2025 over the alleged harassment and land dispute.

n

In the petition, signed by Prince Yussuf Olarinde on behalf of the family and obtained by PUNCH Metro on Thursday, the petitioners accused officers attached to the Satellite Police Station, Area E Command, Tactical Team Area E and the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department of allegedly aiding land-grabbing activities and frustrating complaints against persons they described as land grabbers.

n

The petition was also addressed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the X-Squad Unit and the Police Service Commission.

n

The family claimed that the disputed New Oguntedo Village and Satellite Town settlement was created and allocated to the Olarinde Royal Family by the then Federal Military Government in 1978 following government acquisition and resettlement exercises.

n

It further claimed that its ownership and possessory rights over the land were affirmed by a 1989 judgment of the High Court of Lagos State, which it said was subsequently enforced through warrants of possession issued in 1997 and 2010.

n

The petitioners alleged that despite the court judgment and possession orders, the family had continued to face invasions, demolitions, intimidation and violence by persons it described as land-grabbing syndicates and criminal trespassers.

n

They also accused some police officers of allegedly providing operational cover for armed thugs, preventing family members from accessing their ancestral properties and frustrating complaints made to the authorities.

n

The petition partly read, “Rather than maintaining neutrality and enforcing lawful court judgments, the officers complained against provided operational cover and protection for armed thugs and land-grabbing syndicates; intimidated lawful occupants and family members.

n

“They prevented members of the Olarinde family from accessing their ancestral homes and properties. While they supervised and facilitated unlawful invasions and demolitions, they also frustrated lawful complaints and petitions submitted by the petitioners; and used police authority as an instrument of oppression against victims while shielding alleged perpetrators.”

n

The family further alleged that several violent incidents, including shootings, assaults, threats to life and destruction of property, had been reported to the police.

n

It specifically cited an alleged assassination attempt on Olanrewaju Olarinde on July 9, 2025, accusing armed thugs of attacking him and claiming that the police failed to arrest or prosecute those responsible despite repeated complaints.

n

The petitioners also accused some officers of allegedly fabricating criminal allegations against members of the family, manipulating investigations and using criminal proceedings to harass and intimidate them.

n

They cited the arraignment of Yussuf Olarinde, Sanni Olarinde and the Oba-elect, Latifu Sadiku Olarinde, over alleged murder and armed robbery charges, as well as a separate case involving another family member, Tope Olarinde.

n

The family further alleged that properties belonging to its members were demolished, looted or unlawfully occupied during what it described as police-backed invasions.

n

According to the petition, vehicles, building materials, cash, personal belongings and other valuables worth millions of naira were allegedly stolen or confiscated during the incidents.

n

The family consequently urged the IG to order an independent investigation into the allegations and transfer the relevant case files from the Lagos State Command to the FCID or another investigative unit outside the state.

n

It also requested the investigation of the officers named in the petition, recovery of allegedly stolen properties, prosecution of identified suspects and police protection for members of the Olarinde family and residents of Oguntedo Village and Satellite Town.

n

The petitioners said, “We respectfully submit that the continued silence, compromise, neglect, and inaction of some officers of the Lagos State Police Command in the face of overwhelming complaints, subsisting court judgments, attempted killings, violent invasions, criminal intimidation, and organised unlawful activities constitute a dangerous perversion of justice and a grave threat to the rule of law.

n

“We therefore passionately appeal to your distinguished office to urgently intervene in the interest of justice, public peace, protection of innocent citizens, preservation of lives and property, and safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the Nigeria Police Force.”

n

The Force Public Relations Officer, Iniedu Okokon, could not be reached for reaction on Monday, as calls made to his telephone lines were unanswered.

n

A text message sent to him had also yet to receive a response as of the time of filing this report.

n n