'I Was Shot for Defending My Land' — Delta Residents Accuse Police, Estate Developer of Violent Land Grab, Rights Abuses

'I Was Shot for Defending My Land' — Delta Residents Accuse Police, Estate Developer of Violent Land Grab, Rights Abuses

June 9, 2026

Tension is mounting in Delta State as residents of Ogbeozoma Community have accused security operatives and a private estate developer of orchestrating a forceful takeover of community land, resulting in alleged shootings, arrests, intimidation, and widespread human rights violations.

One of the affected residents, Mr. Okolie, who claimed he was shot during a confrontation at the disputed site, narrated a harrowing account of how what began as a disagreement over land ownership allegedly escalated into violence.

According to him, the land at the centre of the dispute is part of a five-acre parcel allocated to him by the community as compensation for several developmental projects he carried out for the area over the years.

Okolie explained that concerns arose after reports emerged that sections of the land were being fenced off and incorporated into an estate development project without the consent of the rightful owners.

He said community leaders, alarmed by the development, mobilised contractors and residents to inspect the site, only to discover extensive demolition activities already underway.

"The land belongs to me. Some plots have already been allocated to individuals, while others have gone ahead to build houses on their portions," Okolie said.

"When we arrived, we discovered that fences, buildings and other properties on the land had been demolished. We could not understand why such destruction was taking place despite the existing ownership claims."

The situation, he alleged, became even more troubling when they encountered a heavy security presence at the location.

According to him, armed police officers and other security personnel were deployed to the site and appeared to be providing protection for those carrying out the demolition exercise.

"The security presence was overwhelming. It looked more like a military operation than a civil matter," he stated.

"If there is a genuine dispute over ownership of the land, the appropriate place to settle it is the court. The police should not be seen taking sides in what is essentially a civil matter."

Recounting the incident that left him injured, Okolie alleged that he was shot while attempting to prevent further demolition on the property.

"I was simply protesting and asking them to stop because the land belonged to me. They ordered that I should be shot, and that was how I sustained the injury," he alleged.

"The injury has seriously affected my ability to work and provide for my family. I am appealing to the relevant authorities to intervene and ensure justice is served."

His claims were echoed by Mr. Chinedu Ofuani, Chairman of the Ogbeozoma Community Land Allocation Committee (OCLAC), who described the dispute as a long-running battle marked by intimidation, unlawful arrests and abuse of power.

According to Ofuani, community members have endured years of harassment while attempting to defend what they consider their ancestral land.

"This is no longer just about land ownership," Ofuani said.

"It has become an issue of intimidation, human rights violations and abuse of power. Some private interests are allegedly using law enforcement agencies to harass community leaders and residents who are standing up for their ancestral property."

He further alleged that he was personally subjected to unlawful treatment by security operatives.

"I was arrested, blindfolded, assaulted and detained despite committing no offence," he claimed.

"Several community members have also been arrested and dragged before the courts on allegations that were later abandoned. These actions have created fear and uncertainty within the community."

Residents insist that the ongoing dispute has caused significant distress and raised serious questions about the role of security agencies in civil conflicts involving land ownership.

They are calling on the Delta State Government, relevant security authorities and human rights organisations to investigate the allegations and ensure that justice is served.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Chief Executive Officer of Bethel Court Estate, Mr. Michael Igbo, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. Multiple calls placed to his telephone line went unanswered, while a text message seeking his reaction had not been replied to.

When contacted regarding the allegations against the police, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, declined to comment extensively on the matter, stating only: "Let them approach the court."

The controversy has continued to generate concern among residents, with many insisting that an independent investigation is necessary to determine the true ownership of the disputed land and establish whether the actions of all parties involved complied with the law