— As CP Commissions Police Clinic
The Achadu Oko-Ata Igala, HRH, Ali Yusuf Ameadaji, has called on the Kogi state Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, to launch an investigation into the alleged complicity of police officers in a land grabbing issues in Igala land.
The First Class Chief, made the call recently when he received the Commissioner of Police in his palace, to discuss pressing issues affecting the region’s peace and development.
Achadu, lamented the illegal sale of community lands by a few individuals who allegedly used the police to intimidate community members, emphasizing that such acts were not only unlawful but deeply harmful to communal harmony.
According to him, some officers have allegedly acted outside their legal mandate and, in doing so, violated the constitutional rights of citizens.
He strongly condemned the misuse of police authority to back illegal land acquisition, saying that the police should uphold justice, not aid land grabbing for personal gain.
He also spoke passionately about the ongoing threat posed by some herdsmen who had made farming difficult and dangerous for indigenous people. “Our people are farmers by nature, and they must be allowed to go about their livelihood in peace,” the monarch stated.
While commending the CP and Police for extending services of the recently commissioned Police clinic in Idah to the populace.
The Achadu, also raised complaints about police officers requesting bail money before securing bail.
In his response, CP Dantawaye, who expressed gratitude for the monarch’s commitment to his people, said the purpose of his visit was to interface with His Royal Highness, interact on challenges and look at areas of intervention and to Commission the Police Clinic put in place to not only cater for police officers and their families, but the community.
Speaking on security issues in the area, he underscored the relevance of collaborative efforts between security agencies, traditional rulers and the people as critical stakeholders in crime prevention and control.
The Commissioner, who promised to look at concerns raised by the Royal Father, firmly reiterated that bail is free and urged the public to report any such demands directly to him.
The highpoint of the meeting, was the commissioning of a new Police Clinic, tribal leaders from the Fulani, Igbo, and Tiv communities in Idah all graced the occasion