Operatives of the X-Squad from the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, have arrested four armed policemen and three Ogun State forest guards allegedly involved in illegal demolition and land grabbing in Orile Egun and Ijere communities, Pakuro, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Also arrested was a site engineer who reportedly claimed to have been contracted by the Eternal Glorious Fountain Ministry, alleged to have sponsored the illegal operation.
The arrested forest guards were identified as Kehinde Babalola, 30, Akintunde Babatunde, 28, and Taiwo Michael Ayomide, 26. Preliminary investigations revealed that the policemen involved were not on any official assignment but had been unlawfully mobilised to the site, with one falsely claiming to be an officer visiting from Kaduna State. Security operatives recovered a pistol and locally made firearms from the suspects.
According to a police source at the FCID Annex, the arrests followed a petition filed by residents who accused the suspects of leading an armed team to demolish uncompleted buildings and assault villagers despite a subsisting court order prohibiting such actions.
As of Wednesday, the suspects were being detained at the FCID Annex, Alagbon, for interrogation and possible prosecution. Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the FCID Annex, Ameenat Maiyegun, said: “It is true. They are in our custody and are currently undergoing interrogation. The investigation is ongoing.”
The X-Squad operatives are also investigating the alleged involvement of members of the Ogun State Task Force on Land Grabbing in the incident, amid claims that the demolition violated an existing court injunction.
Reports indicated that before the demolition, residents had raised alarm and petitioned the Ogun State Government and relevant authorities to halt the illegal activity.
Court documents seen by investigators confirmed that the Ogun State High Court, presided over by Justice M.A. Dipeolu, had in July 2025 issued an interim restraining order in favour of Reality Point Limited, barring the Ogun State Government, its agents, or any private parties from demolishing or altering structures on the disputed 76.15-acre land at Pakuro Ijere in Obafemi Owode.
The same order also restrained one Dotun Lamikunra, identified as the first defendant, along with his associates and agents, from “taking possession, selling, or developing in any manner whatsoever the said parcel of land belonging to the claimant.”
