Policeman Accused of Shooting, Brutalising Lagos Landowner in Alleged Attempted Murder
…Victim, Group Seek Justice, Safety Over Threat to Life, Police Confirm Probe
What began as a simple effort to protect family property in the Ojo area of Lagos State has now spiralled into a nightmare of bullet, assault, and threats to life for Mr. Kolawole Oluakamo, a Lagos resident who says a serving police officer from Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwene of the Strike Force squad, has turned his life upside down in a violent land dispute.
Looking visibly shaken and emaciated from the ordeal, Mr. Oluakamo recounted his harrowing experience at a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, pleading passionately with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to save his life.
“I am crying out because I don’t know what else to do. A police officer who is supposed to protect me has threatened to kill me over my own land,” he said, displaying copies of his title documents and a Letter of Attorney authorising him to manage the property on behalf of his elder sister, who resides abroad. The visibly distressed victim also displayed gory and graphic photographs showing him badly manhandled and brutalised, with severe injuries allegedly inflicted by the same police officer.
According to Oluakamo, the land — four plots located at Ijagemo Road, Tailor Bus-stop, Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, valued at over ₦40 million — has been under his lawful care for more than ten years without any issues. Trouble began earlier this year when one Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwene, a serving officer with Zone 2 Command, allegedly bought the same land and teamed up with some land thugs (“omo onile”) and local family heads to seize the property by force.
“I have managed this land peacefully for about 15 years. But since Inspector Ifeanyi came into the picture earlier in 2025, my life has been under threat. I was shot at but narrowly missed, beaten severally, and warned never to come near the land again,” the victim said, his voice trembling.
He alleged that the family head, Mr. Akeem Ajakaye, conspired with the police officer and hired thugs to eliminate him. The attacks, he claimed, reached a terrifying peak on September 23, 2025, when armed men allegedly ambushed him, beat him mercilessly, and warned him to stay away from the property or face death.
“Unknown to me that my assailant is a serving police officer at Zone 2 Command, I went to lodge a complaint, but instead of justice, I met intimidation. Because officers at Zone 2 showed care having seen my evidence, Inspector Ifeanyi quickly hijacked the case, the same one that involved him and tranferred it to Force Headquarters Annexe, Kam Salem while investigation was still ongoing. Police officers at Kam Salem especially one officer Obi Stanley acted like they were protecting their colleague. They seized my phone, deleted recorded evidence and threatened to lock me up after a heated argument with my lawyer,” he alleged.
“Having battered me badly, Ifeanyi has insisted on killing me over the land and he is after my life. I can’t sleep in my house again. We bought this land and did all title documents almost 20 years ago only for the power drunk police officer who said he bought the land in 2025 to be intimidating me because he is a Policeman,” he noted..
‘This Is an Attack on Life and the Rule of Law’ — CHSR
In response, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) condemned the incident as a gross abuse of police authority, warning that such impunity could spark broader unrest if left unchecked.
Speaking at the briefing, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, President of CHSR, described the case as “not merely a land dispute but a violent assault on justice, life, and human dignity.”
“It is outrageous and unacceptable that a serving police officer would be involved in land grabbing or use his uniform to intimidate citizens,” Omotehinse said.
“The police are funded by taxpayers to protect lives and property — not to serve private interests or act as hired enforcers. If this matter is not handled transparently, it will destroy public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.”
Omotehinse, who labelled the case an “attempted murder,” called for an independent investigation and the immediate suspension of Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwene, pending the outcome of a thorough probe.
He also demanded protection for Mr. Kolawale and his family, as well as prosecution of all individuals found complicit — both police and civilian.
The CHSR urged the Inspector General of Police, the AIG Zone 2, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, and the Police Service Commission to act swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating into violence.
Zone 2 Police Command Reacts
Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson for Zone 2 Police Command, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ayuba Umma, confirmed the case and noted that the officer involved is currently under investigation.
“The concerned police officer, Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwene, is under investigation over this matter. We are aware and remain committed to upholding professional conduct among our officers,” Ayuba stated.
She disclosed that the officer had been invited by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Mr. Adegoke Fayoade, and assured that disciplinary actions would be taken where necessary.
