Anambra Residents Lament Alleged Security Operatives’ Role in Illegal Demolitions

Fear, anger, and deep uncertainty now loom over Omalima Layout, Oze, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, as residents accuse armed security operatives of aiding illegal land grabbing and violent demolition of private properties.
These include residential homes and a church without any court order.

At the heart of the controversy is a formal petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) by the Amalgamated Landlord Association of Omalima Layout, alleging gross abuse of power, professional misconduct, and the unlawful deployment of armed force by security personnel allegedly acting in concert with suspected land grabbers.
“They Came With Guns, Not Papers”
Residents describe the operation as sudden, coordinated, and deeply intimidating.
“They did not come with court papers. They came with guns,”
“We woke up to bulldozers escorted by armed men. Our walls were collapsing, our houses shaking, and no one dared to challenge them.”said Mr. Emeka Okeke, Secretary of the Landlord Association.

According to details contained in the petition, the grabbers arrived with bulldozers, caterpillars, and other earth-moving equipment, allegedly shielded by armed operatives believed to be drawn from the Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other unidentified security outfits.
Residents insisted that at no point was any court order, statutory notice, or government demolition approval presented.
Among the demolished structures was a church building belonging to the Niger Diocese of the Anglican Communion, an action residents describe as both sacrilegious and psychologically devastating.
“That church was more than a building,”
“It was where we prayed for peace and unity. They brought it down as if it meant nothing.”said an elderly resident who requested anonymity for security reasons.
Photographs attached to the petition reportedly document the scale of destruction, including flattened buildings, shattered perimeter fences, displaced families, and damaged personal property.

Legal experts emphasize that no individual, agency, or security formation has the authority to demolish private property without a valid court order, irrespective of ongoing land disputes.
Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees every citizen the right to acquire and own immovable property.
Section 44 expressly prohibits compulsory acquisition, demolition, or destruction of property without due process and adequate compensation.
The Nigeria Police Act and allied security regulations prohibit officers from facilitating civil wrongs, enforcing private interests, or acting outside lawful directives.
A senior legal practitioner, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the allegations as “deeply disturbing and constitutionally dangerous.”
“If armed officers escorted demolitions without court orders, that goes beyond misconduct. It amounts to a direct assault on the Constitution and the rule of law,” he said.
The petition reportedly names Ben Chibio, Chukwuma Okpala Ezekwu, Chiejina Obieze, and Sunday Ogazi (popularly known as ‘One Man 30’) as key figures allegedly coordinating the operation.
Residents alleged that the individuals openly boasted of strong connections with the Nigeria Police Force,
the Nigerian Navy, the NSCDC,
and unnamed high-ranking government officials.
“They told us nothing would happen to them,”
“They said security was on their side.”a resident recounted.
In a significant development, the Anambra State Ministry of Lands and the Physical Planning Board, following independent investigations, reportedly issued public notices distancing themselves and their personnel from the demolition at Omalima Layout.
This official disassociation has further raised questions about who authorized the operation and under what legal framework it was carried out.
According to the petition, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Anambra State Police Command initially arrested some suspects and impounded demolition equipment, which was taken to a police facility in Awkuzu.
Residents, however, allege that demolition resumed days later, this time with an even heavier armed presence.
“That was when fear truly entered us,”
“If arrests were made and the destruction still continued, then who are citizens supposed to trust?”said Evangelist Abaogu Moses, Chairman of the Association.

Beyond the legal implications, residents say the human cost is severe. Families have been displaced, children forced out of school routines, and elderly residents left traumatized.
“We are law-abiding citizens,”
“But when people are pushed endlessly, reactions become inevitable. That is how bloodshed begins.”one landlord said.
The petition warns that continued intimidation and militarized enforcement of private interests could provoke resistance, leading to communal unrest, violence, and potential loss of lives.
The residents therefore called for Federal-government Intervention.

The landlords are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to
urgently investigate the alleged involvement of security personnel,
identify and prosecute those responsible for the demolitions,
halt any further destruction,
and restore public confidence in law-enforcement institutions.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy, and the Anambra State Government have yet to issue official responses to the allegations.
A Crucial Test for the Rule of Law
For residents of Omalima Layout, the crisis transcends land ownership—it is a test of whether the rule of law still protects ordinary citizens against the misuse of state power.
“If armed men can destroy our homes today,”whose home will be next tomorrow?a resident asked quietly.