Dare Babalola
A land dispute in Lagos has taken a violent turn, with a police officer, Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwene, accused of brutality and attempted murder.
The victim, Kolawole Oluakamo, claims Onyekwene, a serving officer with Zone 2 Command, has turned his life upside down in a violent land dispute.
According to Oluakamo, the land in question, valued at over ₦40 million, has been under his lawful care for over 10 years without any issues. Trouble began earlier this year when Onyekwene allegedly bought the same land and teamed up with land thugs and local family heads to seize the property by force.
“I have managed this land peacefully for about 15 years. But since Inspector Ifeanyi came into the picture earlier in 2025, my life has been under threat. I was shot at but narrowly missed, beaten severally, and warned never to come near the land again,” Oluakamo said.
The attacks, he claimed, reached a terrifying peak on September 23, 2025, when armed men allegedly ambushed him, beat him mercilessly, and warned him to stay away from the property or face death.
“Unknown to me that my assailant is a serving police officer at Zone 2 Command, I went to lodge a complaint, but instead of justice, I met intimidation. Because officers at Zone 2 showed care having seen my evidence, Inspector Ifeanyi quickly hijacked the case, the same one that involved him and transferred it to Force Headquarters Annexe, Kam Salem while investigation was still ongoing. Police officers at Kam Salem especially one officer Obi Stanley acted like they were protecting their colleague. They seized my phone, deleted recorded evidence and threatened to lock me up after a heated argument with my lawyer,” he alleged.
The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has condemned the incident, describing it as a “gross abuse of police authority”.
“It is outrageous and unacceptable that a serving police officer would be involved in land grabbing or use his uniform to intimidate citizens,” said Comrade Alex Omotehinse, President of CHSR.
“The police are funded by taxpayers to protect lives and property — not to serve private interests or act as hired enforcers. If this matter is not handled transparently, it will destroy public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force,” Omotehinse added.
The CHSR has called for an independent investigation and the immediate suspension of Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwene, pending the outcome of a thorough probe.
Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson for Zone 2 Police Command, CSP Umma Ayuba, confirmed the case and noted that the officer involved is currently under investigation.
“The concerned police officer, Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwene, is under investigation over this matter. We are aware and remain committed to upholding professional conduct among our officers,” Ayuba stated.
She disclosed that the officer had been invited by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade, and assured that disciplinary actions would be taken where necessary.
