Lagos AG Says Police Undermine Anti‑Land Grab Drive, Cites 1,628 Petitions and 221 Resolved

TL;DR: Lagos Attorney‑General Lawal Pedro says the Nigeria Police Force has repeatedly refused to enforce state orders against land grabbers. He notes that the state’s Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers received 1,628 petitions from May 2023 to April 2026 and closed just 221 cases, and will seek renewed cooperation from Inspector‑General Olatunji Disu.

Context: Pedro spoke at the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, accusing the police of non‑compliance with directives from his office. He said that after he first raised the issue with former Inspector‑General Kayode Egbetokun, there was a brief period of improved cooperation, but it collapsed once senior police officers were rotated. The AG linked the weak enforcement to interference from federal police superiors who sometimes countermand state‑led actions. The Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers was created to tackle illegal land occupation and violent property disputes, and the briefing came amid continuing debates over state policing and the powers available to subnational governments to enforce law and order.

Key Facts: Pedro quoted that “the police have declined to enforce directives issued by the Office of the Attorney General.” The Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers logged 1,628 petitions between May 2023 and April 2026 and resolved only 221 of them. He added that his earlier intervention with Egbetokun initially produced commendable compliance before the gains faded. He announced that he will seek renewed intervention from the current Inspector‑General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to restore police cooperation on land‑grab cases.

What It Means: The low resolution rate shows that state anti‑land‑grab mechanisms are hampered when police do not act on legal orders. Continued friction could encourage more illegal occupations and weaken confidence in state justice mechanisms. The situation also reflects broader tensions between state and federal law enforcement, and any improvement could influence similar efforts in other states. Observers will watch whether the upcoming engagement with IGP Disu yields measurable changes in case closures and whether any formal agreement on jurisdictional authority emerges.

Forward‑looking line: The next step to monitor is the outcome of the AG’s talks with IGP Disu and any resulting shift in the number of resolved land‑grab petitions over the coming months.