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
News
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops under Operation WUTAN DAJI have cleared several bandits’ camps, rescued kidnapped victims and recovered arms during clearance operations in Bauchi State.
Security sources said troops of 33 Artillery Brigade Garrison, in conjunction with elements of the Brigade Headquarters and a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), carried out the operation in Kumbodoro forest and Kumbodoro village.

According to the sources, the operation was led by the Commander, 33 Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen. S.S. Shehu, as part of ongoing efforts to rid the area of criminal elements.
They added that several bandits’ camps, including Azuge camps, were cleared during the operation, while a number of the criminals were neutralised.
Items recovered include four skeletal rifles, four dane guns, two pairs of boots, three helmets, a power bank, a Startimes decoder, one FN rifle magazine, one AK-47 magazine, communication links, a jackknife, six mobile phones, arrows, radio chargers, ATM cards, photographs, identity cards, as well as several pairs of security agency uniforms and leg chains.

The sources further disclosed that eight kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation.
They said troops are currently holding position within the Kumbodoro forest to consolidate gains from the clearance mission.
In a related development, the sources said troops deployed at Duguri, in collaboration with local vigilantes, recovered 36 cows at Mushen Kura village following information that the animals were roaming the area.

“The cows are suspected to have fled from bandits’ camps due to the ongoing operations and are currently in custody for further action,” the sources said.
They noted that troops’ morale and combat efficiency remain high, while operations continue to deny bandits freedom of action in the region.
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
News
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
By: Zagazola Makama
Joint security operatives under the Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation Delta Safe, have raided a suspected herders’ camp in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, recovering arms and ammunition.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 1:30 p.m. on April 12 along the IPO community axis by troops of 6 Division Garrison in collaboration with personnel of the Air Force, Navy, Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Civil Defence Corps.
According to the sources, the raid targeted identified herders’ and cattle rearers’ camps in the area.
They added that items recovered during the operation include one AK-47 rifle, one pump-action gun, 274 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four mobile phones.
The sources noted that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal possession of firearms and enhance security across the Niger Delta region.
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
News
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced the establishment of a quarry centre in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, to accelerate infrastructure development in the state.
Zulum made this announcement on Monday while flagging off the distribution of 70 brand-new Howo pickup trucks to the Ministry of Works and the State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA) at the Government House.

The 70 Howo trucks are designed to boost the operational capacity of the Ministry of Works and its supervising agencies. The trucks will enable the swift delivery of materials to sites and faster intervention on distressed roads.
According to the governor, the quarry centre will provide locally sourced materials including granite, gravel and sharp sand to support ongoing and future road projects, reducing dependence on external suppliers and cutting costs.
“We have achieved a lot in health, education, agriculture, security, and road construction among others. However, we still have challenges of constructing roads within the state, especially in rural communities,” Zulum said.
“My administration has established a quarry plant in Pulka with a processing capacity of 120 tons per hour. The State Government spent at least 3 billion to establish the quarry plant”, he added.
According to the governor, due to the prevailing insecurity, most contractors are not willing to work in Borno.

“You know, no serious contractor will take the risk of deploying his equipment to most of the implementing areas, so this is the reason we are here”, the governor reinstated.
“So, we have no option but to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Works, the capacity of Borno State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA), the capacity of special projects, monitoring departments and other MDAs that are responsible for road construction.”
The brief ceremony was attended by the Secretary to Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works, Engr Baware, BORMA Chairman, Engr Sadu Auno, the Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Engr Bukar Gujubawu and other senior officials.
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years agoTHE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News12 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
