Lagos AG Faults Police Over Non‑Compliance in Anti‑Land Grabbing Enforcement
The Lagos State Attorney‑General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, has openly criticised the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for failing to comply with directives issued by the state government in its ongoing battle against land grabbing.
Speaking at the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, Pedro stated that enforcement efforts by the Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers have been undermined by police non‑compliance and interference from senior federal authorities.
In several cases, the police declined to enforce directives issued by the Attorney‑General’s office.
In other instances, enforcement actions initiated by the Lagos State Government or the State Police Command were countermanded by superior federal police authorities, weakening the effectiveness of anti‑land‑grabbing measures.
Pedro described these developments as a major obstacle to the state’s ability to protect property rights and enforce law and order.
Pedro revealed that he had previously escalated the matter to former Inspector‑General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who personally intervened.
Egbetokun reportedly directed senior officers, including the AIG Alagbon and AIG Zone 2, to defer to the Lagos Attorney‑General on all matters relating to land grabbing.
This intervention initially produced compliance, but cooperation collapsed following changes in police leadership.
Pedro has now pledged to seek renewed intervention from the current Inspector‑General, Olatunji Disu, to restore cooperation between the police and the state government.
Presenting the activities of the Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Pedro disclosed that between May 2023 and April 2026, the taskforce received 1,628 petitions but concluded only 221 cases.
He linked the low resolution rate directly to the lack of sustained police cooperation.
The Attorney‑General emphasised that without effective enforcement, the taskforce cannot achieve its mandate of tackling illegal land occupation and violent property disputes.
Pedro’s remarks come amid ongoing national debates over state policing and the constitutional limits of subnational governments in enforcing law and order. The balance of power between federal police authority and state directives. The effectiveness of Nigeria’s legal framework in addressing property disputes and protecting land rights.
