The Oodua Integrity Group has accused some indigenes of Ibuzor, the Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Area, and operatives of the Delta State Police Command of allegedly conniving to carry out illegal land grabbing and sales to raise funds for the release of detained politician, Fred Ajudua.
In a statement on Tuesday, the organisation’s Head of Investigation, Olawale Olaniyi, alleged that the Operation Buffalo unit of the police had been providing unlawful protection to individuals involved in the scheme despite a clear directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, cautioning officers against meddling in civil land matters.
Olaniyi claimed that the council chairman, Innocent Esewezie Zezekuze, was “leading the illegality”, accusing him of working with “desperate indigenes” to intimidate genuine landowners in the community.
He said the officers attached to Operation Buffalo had been “tormenting and harassing innocent landowners” without any court order, worsening fears within the Ibuzor community.
“We appeal to the Inspector-General of Police to intervene urgently,” the group said, warning that tension was already rising among residents as the alleged land sales continued.