Nigeria – A Lagos family has accused a retiree, Mrs. Caroline Fagorusi, and some Nigerian Navy officers of being responsible for the death of their relative, Lawal Rashed, who was allegedly shot dead during a land dispute at Imowo, Ijede, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The family claimed that the naval personnel, who allegedly accompanied Mrs. Fagorusi to the disputed construction site, opened fire on their members, killing Rashed on the spot and leaving two others hospitalised with gunshot wounds.
The incident, which occurred on September 17, reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over a ₦1 million development levy payable by Mrs. Fagorusi to the land-owning family.
A community leader and spokesperson for the family, Olatunji Akorede, told Metro that the tragedy occurred after repeated confrontations with Mrs. Fagorusi, who allegedly brought naval officers to intimidate members of the community.
According to him, the family had earlier agreed with all allottees of the land—purchased about 40 years ago by a cooperative society—that each member would pay the fee and present evidence of allocation before beginning development.
“Mrs. Fagorusi initially agreed to the condition but later reneged. Instead of resolving the matter peacefully, she began to show up at the site with armed naval officers. We warned her and even reported the matter to the Ijede Police Division,” Akorede said.
He recounted that on the day of the incident, he was informed that Fagorusi had once again gone to the land in company of naval personnel. “Before I could get there, I was told they had opened fire on my brothers. One of them died instantly, while two others were badly injured,” he said.
The family accused the police of showing little interest in the case, claiming that although three suspects were arrested, they were released within days and that officers later demanded ₦700,000 to conduct an autopsy on the deceased.
When contacted, Mrs. Fagorusi admitted that she went to the site with naval officers but denied any wrongdoing. She claimed that the officers fired shots only after being attacked by a crowd of about 60 young men who allegedly tried to snatch their rifles.
“After calling Olatunji several times without response, I went to the site with my husband and the officers. Some people began shouting and rushing towards them, so the officers shot into the air to scare them off. I didn’t see anyone who was hit,” she said.
However, the family insisted that her claim was false and accused her of “procuring naval assistance” to violently enforce her will over the disputed land.
When contacted, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, said the case was not reported to his office and advised that the matter be directed to the naval authorities since naval officers were involved.
But the family’s lawyer, Barrister Goddy Osuyi, strongly faulted the Commissioner’s denial, accusing him of deliberately suppressing the case.
“CP lied that the matter was not reported to his office. I met CP Moshood Jimoh myself as the family lawyer. He told me he was aware of the case, that he had been briefed, and that the two suspects arrested had been released on bail,” Osuyi said.
“I was informed at the CID office that the CP had given an order that the matter should not be investigated. When I confronted him, he denied giving such instruction but later said and I quote ‘I have a directive from higher authority to release those suspects because they are innocent.’
“I asked how they could be innocent when no investigation had been done. I also reminded him that the woman who brought the naval officers should have been arrested. But the CP said she couldn’t be prosecuted because she didn’t shoot anyone. I told him that’s not the position of the law. Someone who aids and brings armed men who kill is equally a principal offender. The CP still refused, saying they only plan to write to the Navy to produce the officers. I asked, ‘How will you identify them without first arresting the woman?’”
Osuyi alleged that the police have since stalled all efforts to get justice for the slain man, describing the handling of the case as “a deliberate attempt to shield the perpetrators.”
When contacted on Tuesday, the Nigerian Navy spokesperson, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, promised to respond but had yet to do so as of press time.
Observers say the development again raises concerns over the growing pattern of security operatives getting involved in private land disputes, despite clear prohibitions against such interference.
In August, Metro reported how policemen from Nasarawa State were arrested for their roles in a deadly land clash that claimed seven lives at the Owode Onirin Market, also in Ikorodu.
