The Lagos State Government has accused the Nigeria Police Force of frustrating efforts to combat land grabbing, raising fresh concerns over the challenges confronting state authorities in enforcing anti-land-grabbing laws.
Speaking during the 2026 ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, said police non-compliance and interference from senior federal authorities had weakened the operations of the state’s Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers.
According to him, several enforcement directives issued by the Office of the Attorney-General were either ignored or reversed by superior police authorities.
“In several instances, the police have declined to enforce directives issued by the Office of the Attorney General,” Pedro said.
He added that some enforcement actions initiated by the ministry and even the Lagos State Police Command were later countermanded within the federal police hierarchy.
The Attorney-General described the situation as a major obstacle in the state’s battle against illegal land occupation, violent property disputes and activities of organised land syndicates.
Pedro disclosed that he had previously taken up the matter with former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, shortly after assuming office.
According to him, Egbetokun had directed senior police officers to defer to the Attorney-General on land-grabbing matters.
The intervention, he said, initially improved cooperation between the police and the state government before the situation later deteriorated following changes in police leadership.
Pedro said he would seek renewed intervention from the current Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to strengthen collaboration between security agencies and the state government.
The Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers was created to tackle illegal land occupation, property fraud and violent disputes linked to real estate ownership across the state.
During the briefing, the Attorney-General disclosed that the task force received 1,628 petitions between May 2023 and April 2026 but concluded only 221 cases within the period.
Although he did not directly explain the low resolution rate, Pedro linked the challenge to weak enforcement support and operational limitations.
Land disputes remain a major issue in Lagos, particularly in fast-growing communities where rising property values have intensified conflicts involving developers, families and suspected land-grabbing syndicates commonly referred to as “omo onile”.
The latest remarks have also reignited conversations around state policing and the limitations faced by state governments that depend largely on federally controlled security institutions for enforcement.
Analysts say the dispute highlights growing concerns over coordination gaps between federal police authorities and state governments in addressing urban security and property-related crimes.
Real estate stakeholders have repeatedly warned that weak enforcement and conflicting security directives continue to embolden land-grabbing networks despite existing laws designed to curb the practice.
