By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has cautioned officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force against interfering in land-related disputes across the country.
The IGP gave the warning while addressing senior officers at Force Headquarters in Abuja, stressing that land disputes are civil matters which fall under the jurisdiction of the courts and relevant government agencies, not the police.
According to him, some officers have been accused of taking sides in communal and private land tussles, thereby escalating conflicts and tarnishing the image of the Force.
He reiterated that the duty of the police is to maintain law and order, prevent violence, and protect lives and property, not to determine ownership of land.
Egbetokun warned that any officer found culpable in meddling with land cases or colluding with parties for personal gain would face severe disciplinary action.
He directed Commissioners of Police across states to sensitize their personnel and ensure strict compliance with the directive.
The IGP also urged Nigerians to channel their grievances over land disputes to appropriate institutions, assuring that the police would only intervene when criminal elements exploit such conflicts to perpetrate violence.
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