The Lagos State Police Command has declared activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, wanted for allegedly plotting to incite public unrest and obstruct major routes across the state.
Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, announced the development on Monday while addressing journalists at the Iyana-Oworo end of the Third Mainland Bridge.
He accused Sowore, leader of the “Take It Back Movement,” of defying repeated police warnings against staging protests over the recent demolition of houses in the Oworonshoki area.
According to Jimoh, intelligence reports revealed that Sowore and his associates were planning simultaneous demonstrations at key locations, including the Third Mainland Bridge, Lekki Tollgate, and Freedom Park. He said the planned action could cause severe traffic disruptions, pose safety risks, and endanger lives.
The police commissioner disclosed that 13 suspects connected to the alleged plot had already been arrested, while Sowore had reportedly gone into hiding. He added that investigations were ongoing to identify sponsors and other collaborators behind the planned protest.
Security has since been intensified across the state, with police operatives deployed to strategic points and temporary roadblocks set up on major highways and bridges to prevent any disruption.
Jimoh explained that gatherings on the Third Mainland Bridge could compromise its structural integrity, warning that any attempt to block public roads or disturb the peace would attract decisive action.
Addressing concerns over the controversial demolitions, the commissioner maintained that affected residents in Oworonshoki had received government compensation. He described any planned protest as unjustified and an attempt to provoke crisis under false pretenses.
Jimoh assured Lagos residents of their safety, urging them to continue their normal activities while security agencies work to maintain public order.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to enforcing the law impartially, stressing that the right to free expression does not extend to actions that threaten public safety or obstruct the movement of citizens.
Sowore had earlier vowed to lead a protest against the Oworonshoki demolitions shortly after being granted bail in Abuja, following his arrest alongside Nnamdi Kanu’s counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and other activists.
The police had since warned him against any mobilization, vowing to prevent any demonstration that could lead to chaos in the state.
