By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Human Rights lawyer and Chairman, Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community, Barr Clifford Thomas has said that it has concluded plans to sue the State Police Command over alleged land grabbing and encroachment.
This followed a petition by a firm, Nature Control Company Limited, against the Command’s alleged land grabbing, encroachment and violation of its fundamental rights.
Thomas told a press conference in Uyo on Friday that the firm explained in the petition that the command refused to vacate the land situated at the 25th Anniversary Estate Road, Afaha Idoro, Uyo, measuring approximately 9. 529 hectares which legitimately belong to it.
According to him, from the documentary evidence presented , “the land in issue is private property owned by Nature Control Company Limited, which has made substantive investment in the acquisition of the property legitimately from the previous Allottee and owner, Papi Events and Promotions Limited (which got the allocation on the 22nd of May, 2023) from the Akwa Ibom State Government, for Residential purposes.
“But on the 23/08/2023, Papi Events and Promotion Limited nominated and appointed Nature Control Company Limited as her true and lawful attorney over 7. 340 hectares (when the boundary demarcation was carried out) out of the 9. 529 hectares of the parcel of land. By virtue of this transaction, ownership was transferred.
“The Nigerian Police has never had the land, but had forcefully trespassed into the land. And refused to vacate the land, even after the communities that donated the land to the government, Boundary adjustment was conducted by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Lands and Town Planning, and several other authorities making it very clear that the police land did not extend to this other parcel of land. But the police refused to vacate the land, and restrain their incursion into the property.”
He said all efforts to make the Commissioner of Police to see reasons to leave the land were unsuccessful as the commissioner was adamant and the commander of the Nigerian Mobile Police, Nnaji Chima on his part has been preventing the firm from developing the property.
“During the establishment of the boundaries of both land, the Surveyor General of Akwa Ibom State had produced a survey plan indicating portions of the land belonging to the Nature Control Company Limited and that of the Police Mobile Force. The Survey Plan is available for inspection and verification.
“Nature Control Company Limited had on the 5/02/2026 obtained Consent from the Government of Akwa Ibom State to develop their piece of land situated at 25th Anniversary Estate Road, Afaha Idoro, Uyo but the Police kept intimidating, harassing workers and partners of the claimants who have tried to develop and work on the said land.
“The aggrieved owner is challenging this unlawful and unconstitutional violation of his fundamental right in court, to seek redress, and get the injury corrected; so that development on the property which is long overdue, could commence immediately.
He, therefore urged the office of the Inspector General of Police, the Minister of Police Affairs, and the Police Service Commission to use their good offices to advise their officers mentioned.
Reacting, the Command Spokesperson, DSP Timfon John said the land in question was duly allocated to the Police Mobile Force, 26 Squadron of the Akwa Ibom State Command by the Akwa Ibom State Government in 1992.
John said the allegations of land grabbing were entirely unfounded, baseless, and without any merit stressing that at no time had the Command engaged in, or will it condone any form of unlawful acquisition of land.
She added that the Command, however, will not stand by and allow any individual or group to unlawfully encroach upon or take over land legitimately allocated to the Police under any guise whatsoever.
“It is pertinent to state that, owing to the fact that the land was not fenced at the time, an individual surfaced in the year 2024 with a purported letter of allocation, laying claim to ownership of the same parcel of land.
“In response to this development, the Command formally wrote to the Honourable Commissioner for Lands, Akwa Ibom State, categorically rejecting the said allocation and requesting a thorough, fair, and unbiased investigation into the matter. The Command is currently awaiting the outcome of this investigation.
“The Command remains resolute in protecting its assets and will pursue all lawful means to safeguard its property.
The Command remains committed to due process and lawful resolution of the issue and urges all parties to refrain from actions capable of undermining ongoing administrative processes.” She explained.
