Ogun Assembly warns police against indiscriminate arrests over land disputes

By Adejoke Adeleye

The Ogun State House of Assembly, through its Committee on Lands and Housing, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, via the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police, Zone 2, Lagos, to caution police personnel over the alleged indiscriminate arrest of innocent residents of Ogun State in connection with land-related disputes.

The appeal was made by the Chairman of the Committee, Damilola Soneye, who was represented by  Oluseun Adesanya, during a hearing on a petition involving alleged threats to life and property, land grabbing, assault, and the unlawful seizure and sale of hectares of land at Omu-Eleni, located in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state.

The petition, submitted by Omoju Ogunberu Chambers on behalf of Mr. Ademolu Abiodun, Mr. Tunde Edunoko, and Mr. Temitope Abiodun, outlined continued harassment, the destruction of cash crops, and the unlawful sale of 70 acres of farmland in Oke-Meri, near Omu-Eleni, allegedly by a group of individuals.

Soneye stressed the need for the police to respect the state’s legal processes and refrain from external interference in land matters that fall within the jurisdiction of Ogun State laws. He emphasised that the State Assembly has enacted legislation to address such disputes locally, without recourse to indiscriminate arrests by federal police units.

In light of the ongoing investigation, the Committee re-invited the following individuals to appear before it:

Alhaji Rafiu Akinyemi (No. 1, Enilolobo Bus Stop, Giwa–Okearo Road, Yinkus Plaza, Ifo LGA)

Mr. Folorunsho Lamidi

Mr. Ogunbowale Lamidi

They are to appear before the Committee on Tuesday, 9th September 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

The Committee issued a warning that failure to comply with the invitation would lead to the invocation of Section 129 of the Nigerian Constitution, empowering the Assembly to compel their attendance.