To check illegal activities of land grabbers in Ogun State, surveyors are seeking stronger collaboration with the State Police Command.
During a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, members of the state branch of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), on Wednesday, highlighted the daily struggles faced by surveyors in their profession, especially incidents where surveyors are wrongfully arrested while lawfully carrying out their duties on disputed lands.
To them, it is important to seek stronger collaboration with the Ogun State Police Command to address the growing challenges posed by land-grabbing activities in the state.
In a statement by CSP Omolola Odutola,
Police Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, the surveyors appealed for police intervention in cases where their members are:
• Wrongfully arrested alongside land-grabbing factions despite being legally employed for surveying assignments.
• Misconstrued as land sellers, whereas their actual role is in land planning, demarcation, and delineation rather than granting titles or ownership.
• Exposed to threats, harassment and violence from touts and criminal elements during site inspections.
They emphasised the urgent need for public enlightenment on the role of surveyors in land matters, advocating for wider professional engagement to reduce the reliance on untrained individuals who escalate land disputes into violent conflicts.
In response, Ogunlowo acknowledged the widespread menace of land grabbing and assured the NIS delegation of the Command’s commitment to protecting lawful surveyors. However, he also advised surveyors to:
1. Refrain from colluding with notorious land grabbers or falsifying survey plans to favour any disputing party, as such actions amount to forgery, a punishable offence under Nigerian criminal laws.
2. Ensure strict professional ethics, as the police will only support registered, law-abiding surveyors.
3. Recognise that land disputes are largely civil matters, and unless criminal elements, such as violence or use of dangerous weapons, are introduced, the rightful place to resolve disputes remains the court of law.
The Commissioner of Police firmly assured the surveyors that the police will continue to support genuine professionals while taking decisive action against illegal actors involved in land disputes.
The Ogun State Police Command remains committed to ensuring law, order, and justice in all land-related matters and urges the public to seek legal channels in resolving disputes.
