Human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, for allegedly declaring him wanted, accusing the police chief of ignoring his calls despite several attempts to reach him.
Reacting via his social media handle on Monday, Sowore described the police action as an attempt to silence him and misrepresent the events that occurred in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos, where police officers reportedly disrupted a planned gathering.
“The Lagos Police Commissioner, Moshood Jimoh, has allegedly declared me wanted for ‘disturbing public peace’ after his men failed to carry out an illegal ‘shoot on sight’ order issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in Oworonshoki today,” Sowore said.
He added that despite several efforts to contact the commissioner, his calls were not answered. “Nevertheless, I plan to meet with him soon to address his declaration,” he stated.
Earlier on Monday, the Lagos State Police Command announced that Sowore had been declared wanted for allegedly planning to incite public disorder and obstruct major roads across the state.
Commissioner Jimoh, while speaking to journalists at the Iyana-Oworo section of the Third Mainland Bridge, said the police were closing in on Sowore and others accused of coordinating activities aimed at disturbing public peace.
He warned that anyone attempting to block roads or disrupt normal movement would face the full weight of the law, noting that intelligence reports had linked Sowore and his associates to planned demonstrations at strategic locations such as the Third Mainland Bridge, Lekki Tollgate, and Freedom Park.
“It is only someone who requires mental evaluation that would attempt to block such a vital route used by thousands daily,” the commissioner said.
Jimoh further revealed that 13 suspects had been arrested in connection with the planned protest, while Sowore allegedly fled the scene. He added that investigations were ongoing to identify sponsors and collaborators.
According to him, police officers have been deployed across key parts of Lagos, with temporary roadblocks and diversions put in place to secure critical infrastructure and prevent any form of unrest.
