Femi Ashekun/
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, has declared human rights activist and journalist, Omoyele Sowore, wanted for alleged public disturbance and planning to obstruct traffic in Lagos.
Addressing journalists on Monday, Jimoh said the police had deployed personnel massively to prevent damage to properties during protests, warning that Sowore must report himself to the nearest police station.
He stated, “Sowore should report himself to the nearest police station. I hereby as the commissioner of police, Lagos State Police Command, declare Sowore wanted. I declare him wanted for the act of causing disturbance of public peace and an act to commit serious felony by planning and putting all the plan in motion to obstruct traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge to cause hardship for Lagosians and other Nigerians, as well as visitors who are transiting through this end. We will not allow that happen.
“We’re closing in on him. Anywhere he is, he should be aware we’re closing in on him. I learnt that he was doing video and didn’t come down. He came down in Abuja, why couldn’t he come down in Lagos? He should report himself to the nearest police station because I am going to arrest him, investigate him and prosecute him.”
Jimoh disclosed that 13 persons were arrested during the protest organised by some aggrieved residents of Oworonsoki, who were protesting the demolition of their houses by the state government.
The police described the protest as illegal and referred to the demonstrators as miscreants.
The commissioner claimed that those genuinely affected by the demolition had already been paid compensation by the government.
In response, Sowore said on X that the Lagos Police Commissioner had declared him “wanted” for “disturbance of public peace,” allegedly as a result of his officers’ inability to execute what he called a “shoot on sight” order given by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in Oworonsoki.
“The Lagos Police Commissioner, Moshood Jimoh, has reportedly declared me ‘wanted’ for ‘disturbance of public peace’, allegedly as a result of his officers’ inability to execute a ‘shoot on sight’ order given by his illegal IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, in Oworonsoki today.
“Despite my repeated attempts to contact Nigeria Police Force @PoliceNG Commissioner Jimoh, he has not taken my calls; nevertheless, I plan to meet with him soon to address his declaration,” Sowore wrote.
Sowore, founder of the online investigative news outlet, Sahara Reporters, and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has a long record of activism, including the 2019 “RevolutionNow” protests which led to his arrest and treason charges later dismissed by the courts.
The demolition in Oworonsoki by the Lagos State Government has drawn criticism from residents who allege that their homes were destroyed without due notice or adequate compensation.
The police maintain that the protests against the exercise were unauthorised and disruptive.
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