Operatives of the X Squad of the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos State, have arrested four armed policemen—said to be on illegal duty—and three Ogun State forest guards over the illegal demolition of houses and land grabbing in the Orile Egun, Ijere area of Pakuro, Obafemi Owode Local Government in Ogun State. Also arrested was a site engineer who claimed to have been contracted by a church, Eternal Glorious Fountain Ministry.

The arrested forest guards were identified as Kehinde Babalola (30), Akintunde Babatunde (28), and Taiwo Micheal Ayomide (26). Preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested policemen were illegally mobilized to the community, with one of them claiming to be a visiting officer from Kaduna. A pistol and locally-made guns were recovered from the arrested suspects.

A source at the FCID, Alagbon, confirmed that the arrests followed a petition filed with their office. The suspects were accused of supervising an attack on the village and the demolition of uncompleted buildings despite a subsisting court order.

The suspects were, as of Wednesday afternoon, being detained for interrogation and likely prosecution. Ameenat Maiyegun, the image maker in charge of the FCID Annex, Alagbon, confirmed the arrest to newsmen, stating: “It is true. They are in our custody. They are undergoing interrogations,” and added that the investigation was still ongoing.

The operatives of the X Squad are also reportedly investigating the role of the Ogun State Task Force on Land grabbing in the illegal destruction of the houses. Before the demolition, police sources revealed that the complainant had raised an alarm and alerted the Ogun State Government of the intended action.

The demolition allegedly occurred despite a clear restraining order granted by an Ogun State High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice M.A. Dipeolu, in July 2025. The court had granted the prayer of Reality Point Limited, stopping the Ogun State Government, its servants, and privies “from demolishing or altering the state or any structure or any part of the claimant / applicant’s land… at Pakuro Ijere, Obafemi Owode area, Ogun State measuring about 76.15 acres.”

The interim order also restrained the first defendant, Dotun Lamikunra, his servants, agents, or privies from “taking possession, selling or developing in anyway or manner, that price of land, belonging to the claimant / applicant.” (Nigerian Tribune)