NAVAL OFFICERS ACCUSED OF KILLING MAN OVER LAND DISPUTE IN IKORODU

Read Time:2 Minute, 28 Second

By Aishat Momoh. O.

The family of a man identified as Lawal Rashed has accused some officers of the Nigerian Navy of shooting him dead during a confrontation at a construction site in the Imowo area of Ijede, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Two other persons were reportedly hospitalised after sustaining gunshot injuries in the incident, which occurred on September 17, 2025, following a disagreement over a development fee demanded from a landowner, Caroline Fagorusi.

A community leader and spokesperson for the deceased’s family, Olatunji Akorede, said that the dispute began after the community directed landowners in the area to begin development on their plots to curb criminal activities around undeveloped lands.

According to him, the land in question was part of a large expanse purchased by a cooperative society over 40 years ago. He said the cooperative agreed to pay a ₦1 million development fee per plot to the original landowners.

Akorede alleged that while another landowner complied with the agreement, Fagorusi failed to present her allocation documents or pay the agreed fee but later returned to the site with armed naval officers.

He said, “When we realised that she had resumed construction without meeting the agreed conditions, we reported the matter to the Ijede Police Division. On September 17, I was informed that she had gone back to the site. I sent some of my relatives there to meet her and collect the documents.

“Shortly after, I got a call that naval officers accompanying her had shot at them. One of the victims was confirmed dead at the hospital, while two others were injured.”

Akorede claimed that although three people were arrested after the incident, they were released after three days. He further alleged that police demanded ₦700,000 to conduct an autopsy, adding that the family’s efforts to seek justice had so far been unsuccessful.

When contacted, Fagorusi confirmed there was an agreement to pay the ₦1 million development fee but said she could not afford it immediately because she was a retiree.

She admitted visiting the site with naval officers on the day of the incident but claimed the officers only fired warning shots after being confronted by a crowd of youths.

She said, “When I got there with my husband and the officers, about 60 young men began shouting. One of them tried to grab an officer’s rifle, and that was when they fired their guns. I didn’t see anyone dead; everyone ran away.”

However, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, said the matter was not officially reported to his office and advised the family to take up the case with the naval authorities since military personnel were involved.

When contacted, the Nigerian Navy spokesperson, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, promised to respond to inquiries but had not done so as of press time.

The incident adds to a series of reported cases where security operatives have been accused of intervening in civil land disputes across Lagos.