TheCable

Abagana, a town in Anambra state, has asked Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), to call officials of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) to order. 

Abagana is the headquarters of Njikoka local government area in the state.

In a petition dated March 4, community members under the aegis of Abagana Welfare Union accused some police officers of taking sides in a land dispute that is already before the supreme court.

In the letter signed by Remigius Onwuadi, the town’s president general, the union said the neighbouring Ukpo community, with the protection of SARS officers, forcefully took over portions of land in Abagana.

“Abagana sons alleged that Ukpo monarch, Igwe Robert Eze on March 4, 2020 led a team of artisans with construction equipment and trespassed Abagana community land under dispute in the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” Onwuadi said.

“On Thursday 5th March 2020, a band of about 50 youths from Akaezi village, Ukpo, and a good number of SARS officers in a police patrol van trespassed Abagana land using a bulldozer to demolish walls and structures of Abagana sons behind the Olympic Beverage factory.

“The Anambra State government set up a peace panel to mediate, and that the panel advised the warring communities to desist from constructing on the disputed land until all matters concerning the disputed land had been settled in court.”

When contacted, Haruna Mohammed, police public relations officer in the state, said the command did not receive such petition from the community.

“The command has not gotten a copy of such petition please,” he told TheCable over the phone.