The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, on Sunday, reiterated that land ownership disputes are civil matters to be settled in court and not by the police.
The FCID spokesperson, Aminat Mayegun, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
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NAN reports that some landowners in Lagos had expressed concern over what they described as undue police interference in land disputes, in spite of repeated warnings from authorities that such matters are civil in nature.
Many residents had alleged that police involvement in land disputes had, in some cases, escalated tension, intimidation, and complicated the resolution of ownership issues, which ought to be settled in court.
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They argue that such interference often favoured influential parties, leaving the others vulnerable, and consequently, undermined public trust.
Ms Mayegun told NAN that while the police had a duty to investigate criminal acts arising from land matters, ownership disputes were strictly civil and must be resolved by the courts.
She said that disagreements over land boundaries or ownership fall within the purview of civil law but could become criminal when they involve fraud, deceit, or violence.
“The police are duty-bound to intervene and investigate only when land-related disputes give rise to criminal offences, as they have no mandate to determine ownership of land.
“These include obtaining money by false pretence, malicious damage to property, arson, assault, or any other act defined as an offence under the Criminal Code Act,” she said.
The spokesperson cited crimes like obtaining money by false pretence, causing malicious damage, and arson, adding that individuals who commit such offences under the guise of land disputes will be investigated and prosecuted.
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Ms Mayegun consequently cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands by resorting to violence to assert land claims, urging aggrieved parties to follow legal channels to seek redress.
She assured the public that the police would continue to perform their duties in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, she urged the public to report cases of land interference to the Police Complaints Response Unit.
(NAN)
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