IGP Bars Police from Land Disputes, Says Officers “Must Not Escort Land Recovery Parties
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, has issued a stern directive prohibiting police officers from participating in or facilitating land recovery operations, emphasizing that such activities fall outside the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Police Force.
In a strongly worded statement released by the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 23rd September, 2025 the IGP declared: “Police officers have no business escorting parties for land recovery.” The statement comes amid growing public concern over the misuse of police personnel in private land disputes, often resulting in violence, human rights violations, and the erosion of public trust in law enforcement.
According to IGP Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force is constitutionally empowered to maintain law and order, prevent and detect crime, and protect lives and property, but not to act as private security agents for individuals or groups engaged in land matters.
“Land disputes are civil in nature and should be resolved through due process in courts of competent jurisdiction,” the IGP stressed. “The involvement of police officers in such matters not only compromises the impartiality of the Force but also exposes innocent citizens to unwarranted intimidation and potential harm.”
The directive explicitly forbids all officers and men from accepting requests, whether from private individuals, traditional institutions, or government agencies, to provide security escorts or operational support for the purpose of reclaiming or occupying disputed land. Violators, the IGP warned, will face disciplinary action in accordance with the Police Act and relevant service regulations.
The statement further urged members of the public to refrain from soliciting police assistance in land-related conflicts and to seek redress through legal channels. “The Police will respond to genuine threats to life and property, but we will not be party to the enforcement of civil claims,” the IGP clarified.
Human rights organizations and legal experts have welcomed the directive as a necessary step toward depoliticizing land conflicts and upholding the rule of law. “This is a long-overdue clarification,” said Amina Yusuf, a legal analyst with the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies. “Too often, police presence in land disputes has been weaponized by the powerful against vulnerable communities.”
The IGP also directed all State Commissioners of Police and Area Commanders to ensure strict compliance with the order and to report any breach immediately to the Office of the Inspector-General.
As Nigeria grapples with escalating land-related tensions, particularly in urban centers and agrarian regions, this directive is expected to set a clear boundary between law enforcement duties and civil litigation, reinforcing the principle that justice in property matters must be adjudicated by courts, not enforced by uniforms.