Land grabbers accused of illegal demolition in Delta

The managing director of a real estate firm in Okpanam community, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Iyke Dike, has alleged that no fewer than 30 personnel of security agencies in the state colluded with land grabbers to demolish a property belonging to his company.

Eyewitness accounts allege that the armed officers, acting on the orders of a notorious land grabber known as Okeke or Ogidi, stormed the property at around 1 am on Tuesday, July 23, accompanied by bulldozers.

Dike revealed that the property had been subjected to repeated midnight attacks by unknown individuals, with fences and gates houses being demolished without trace. Despite previous reports to the police, no arrests had been made due to lack of evidence.

The situation escalated on July 23 when Dike and his team confronted the demolition crew. Allegedly, one of the security agents from the land grabber’s group shot at Dike’s vehicle and injured a police officer assigned to his protection.

The realtor said, “For some months now, we have been experiencing some ugly experiences of people pulling down fences and gatehouses of buildings on our estate in Asaba at midnight and there have been no traces.

“All these while, the police have been handicapped because there is no evidence to prove anything. As God will have it, on Tuesday, July 23, around 1 am, an unknown number called me. I didn’t pick up the call because I was tired. I felt it was one of my marketers calling at odd hours.

“The call became very persistent around 3 am and at one point, my engineer called me. I prayed and was about to call him back when my staff members started knocking at my door. I opened the door and they said people were already breaking down the fence of my estate.”

Dike said before going to the scene, he went to carry policemen of the special protection unit assigned to him and also informed members of the community where the estate is located and the Divisional Police Officer, Okpanam Division about the incident.

Three suspects, including a bulldozer operator and a driver, were apprehended at the scene.

The Delta State Police Command has been notified of the incident, with the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department in Yaba, Lagos State for further investigation.

He said, “When the state Commissioner of Police was informed, he said the matter should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department, Panti, Yaba, where the matter is being handled.”

Efforts to reach the state police spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful at the time of this report.