News
Delta State Police Crack Team Unit Accused Of Unlawful Arrests In Land Disputes
Delta State Police Crack Team Unit Accused Of Unlawful Arrests In Land Disputes
Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State – Concerns have been raised over the involvement of the Delta State Police Crack Team in land disputes, with allegations of indiscriminate arrests of innocent individuals in civil matters. A recent incident involving the wrongful detention of day labourers working on a Presbyterian Church development site in Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom has sparked public outcry and renewed criticism of police interference in land issues.
Despite the new Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ogwashi-Uku having ruled that the dispute was a civil matter, the Local Government Chairman reportedly contacted the Delta State Commissioner of Police to intervene, leading to the transfer of the arrested innocent day labourers to Asaba. These individuals have now been detained beyond the legally permitted period, raising concerns over the violation of their fundamental human rights.
Legal experts and community leaders argue that the police have no authority to interfere in civil land disputes, which should be adjudicated by the courts. The wrongful arrests have been attributed to political interference, as local politicians allegedly pressure law enforcement to advance personal land interests. The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd.), has repeatedly warned police officers nationwide against involvement in land disputes, emphasizing that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the judiciary.
The controversy in Ogwashi-Uku has also drawn attention to Pastor Jude Chukwunweike and his sister, Ada Anioma, who are alleged to be leveraging police power to assert land claims in the community. Allegations suggest that they are using law enforcement as a tool to obtain land titles.
Outraged by these developments, members of the Presbyterian Church and concerned citizens have vowed to petition the Officer in Charge (OC) of the Crack Squad, SP Mohammed Ibrahim Balarade, to the Police Service Commission. The petition will highlight repeated cases of police intimidation, wrongful detentions, and the apparent misuse of power in land disputes.
Further exacerbating tensions, the Delta State Police recently became involved in another land dispute in Asaba, where an eighty year old woman died from tear gas fired by trigger happy police over a dispute regarding a wheelbarrow. Instead of addressing the situation amicably and without undue force, police headquarters dispatched several tactical teams to the disputed land, where tear gas was fired at innocent community members. This excessive use of force resulted in the tragic death of an eighty-year-old woman, further fueling public anger and condemnation of police brutality.
Community members and advocacy groups are demanding an urgent review of the role of the Delta State Police and the commissioner of police in land matters and calling for accountability for officers who violate constitutional rights. The repeated interference of law enforcement in civil disputes has not only led to wrongful arrests but has now escalated into tragic consequences.
As the detained labourers remain in police custody without due process, there is mounting pressure on the Delta State Police Command to release them immediately and take corrective action against officers involved in these unlawful actions. The outcome of the petition to the Police Service Commission will be closely watched as residents continue to push for justice and an end to police interference in civil land disputes. Community residents are also concerned about the use of pllice for civil matters when the community is facing serious criminal activities. According to an spokesman if the town union, police should be focused on serious crimes rather than detaining laborers because of a land dispute.
Delta State Police Crack Team Unit Accused Of Unlawful Arrests In Land Disputes
Crime
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
By: Zagazola Makama
A catastrophic fire has torn through the Kalari settlement in Konduga Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, claiming three lives and displacing over 3,000 people. The blaze, which erupted at approximately 1:00 PM, engulfed three villages, reducing more than 1,500 thatched houses to ashes.
Zagazola Makama gathered that In response to the disaster, the military, along with the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF), mobilized swiftly to provide emergency assistance. Personnel from the 222 Battalion rendered first aid to the wounded and transported the injured to Maiduguri Specialist Hospital via Army ambulances.
The timely intervention of key local officials, including the Chairman of Konduga LGA, a Member of the House of Assembly, and the Commissioner for Environment, ensured immediate relief efforts for the affected families.
This incident comes on the heels of severe flooding that devastated Konduga LGA in September 2024, following the collapse of the Alau Dam. The flash floods from the dam’s collapse also affected Maiduguri and Jere LGAs, displacing an estimated 240,000 people. Many residents are still recovering from that catastrophe, and the latest fire disaster has further intensified the region’s humanitarian crisis.
An Official of SEMA, said the Borno State Government has made an urgent appeal for humanitarian aid to support the thousands affected by both the recent fire and previous flood disasters. Efforts are underway to provide shelter, food, and medical care to those impacted by these successive calamities.
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
Six Die in Taraba Boat Mishap, Nine Rescued
By: Zagazola Makama
A boat accident on the Jole River in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State has claimed six lives, while nine other passengers were rescued alive, the Taraba State Police Command has confirmed.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
According to police sources, the boat was conveying 15 people when it capsized midstream. Rescue efforts led to the recovery of nine survivors, while the bodies of six passengers were later pulled from the river.
The deceased have been identified as Dadi Mallam Dotti (30), Mubarak Abdu (21), Bappa Mallam Dotti (20), Adamu Yayagardi (30), and one Madugu (22), all from Badabdi, Funakaye LGA of Gombe State, of the Terawa ethnic group. The sixth victim was Umar Gambo (34), of Zaura Ward, Damban LGA, Bauchi State, of the Karakare ethnic group.
The boat driver is currently at large, and efforts are ongoing to locate him.
The police sources said that search and recovery operations were conducted in collaboration with local divers and community volunteers.
Six Die in Taraba Boat Mishap, Nine Rescued
Teenager Dies After Ritual Experiment by Native Doctor in Edo
By: Zagazola Makama
The Edo State Police Command has arrested two men in connection with the death of a 14-year-old boy, Okonkwo Obina Emmanuel, following a failed ritual performance in Iyamon Village, Illushi, Ubiaja.
Police sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident was reported on April 2, 2025, by the deceased’s elder brother, Okonkwo Onyenbushi. According to the report, a self-acclaimed native doctor, Amechi Edozunor, in collaboration with one Kelvin Ugru, allegedly performed a charm ritual on the victim to make him “invulnerable to bottles.”
During the ritual, the suspects reportedly struck the boy’s head with a bottle in an attempt to prove the charm’s effectiveness, leading to a fatal head injury.
The victim was rushed to Wisdom Hospital and later referred to Ogbeide Hospital, where he died on April 5, 2025.
The sources said his remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy, while both suspects are currently in police custody pending further investigation.
Teenager Dies After Ritual Experiment by Native Doctor in Edo
VP Shettima Demands More Private Sector Engagement In Healthcare Reforms
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
Six Die in Taraba Boat Mishap, Nine Rescued
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