Lagos Police Declare Activist Omoyele Sowore Wanted Amid Protests Against Demolitions In Oworonshoki
By Oludare Joshua
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, has declared prominent human rights activist Omoyele Sowore wanted for allegedly inciting unrest related to protests against the unlawful demolition of homes in the Oworonshoki community of Lagos.
During a press conference at the site of the demolitions on Monday, Commissioner Jimoh accused Sowore of traveling to Lagos to “instigate unrest” and rally residents against the controversial demolition conducted by the state government.
Witnesses reported that the protests, largely comprised of displaced families, were marked by chants of solidarity as the demonstrators called for an immediate halt to further demolitions and demanded alternative housing solutions.
In a video statement released on the same day, Commissioner Jimoh stated, “As the Commissioner of Police for the Lagos Police Command, I hereby declare Sowore wanted for causing a disturbance of public peace and conspiring to commit a serious felony by planning to obstruct traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge, thereby causing hardship for Lagosians and other Nigerians. We will not allow this to happen.”
The demolitions in Oworonshoki have sparked intense public outrage, with civil rights organizations accusing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration of engendering “state-sponsored homelessness” among impoverished residents. Graphic videos circulating on social media depict bulldozers demolishing both residential properties and small businesses, all while armed police provided oversight during the operation.
Earlier in the day, police utilized teargas to disperse both residents and activists who had converged to protest what they labeled the “illegal and inhuman” demolition of their homes by Lagos State officials.
Reports from SaharaReporters indicate that Sowore was subjected to attacks by members of the Lagos State Police Command as he arrived at the rally site, where the protest was being organized by the Take It Back movement. The police commenced heavy teargas deployment shortly after Sowore arrived, aimed at disrupting the gathering.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate, had pledged his attendance at the protest after being recently released from Kuje prison in Abuja, where he was detained following the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration on October 20, which led to significant unrest in the city.
Commissioner Jimoh had previously warned Sowore against attending the protest, yet the activist remained resolute in his commitment. After raising concerns that specific directives from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) may have been issued to target him, Sowore eventually departed the scene. Subsequently, he addressed his followers via Facebook Live, condemning the police’s actions and linking the current state of Nigeria to a pressing need for external intervention, even referencing US President Donald Trump’s involvement in potential solutions.
