The Lagos State Police Command has declared Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, wanted for allegedly organising a protest aimed at disrupting public peace.
Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, announced the development on Monday at Iyana-Oworo on the Third Mainland Bridge, accusing Sowore of instigating unrest during demonstrations against the state government’s ongoing demolitions in the Oworonshoki area.
"As Commissioner of Police, I hereby declare Omoyele Sowore wanted for acts likely to cause public disorder," Jimoh told reporters at the scene.
According to him, the protest, which followed the demolition of houses built along a pipeline corridor, was designed to obstruct traffic and provoke a breakdown of law and order.
He described the action as "criminal," warning that blocking a vital route such as the Third Mainland Bridge could endanger thousands of commuters.
"It is only someone who needs examination that would attempt to block such a vital route used by thousands daily," Jimoh said.
A heavy police presence was recorded across Lagos on Monday, with armoured vehicles stationed at strategic locations including Ojota, Maryland, Lekki Toll Gate, and Bariga.
Officers reportedly used tear gas to disperse protesters attempting to converge on Oworonshoki, while access roads to the area were sealed off.
Thirteen suspects were arrested in connection with the planned protest, police said, while Sowore allegedly fled the scene, adding that investigations are ongoing to identify other suspected organisers and sponsors.
Sowore, who briefly appeared at the protest ground before police intervention, accused security operatives of receiving "shoot-to-kill" orders and later shared live footage of the confrontation on social media.
The activist, recently released from detention in Abuja following his involvement in the #FreeNnamdiKanu protests, has long been at odds with authorities over his civic campaigns.
He has previously faced charges including treason and cyberstalking.
Earlier in January, he was questioned by police over a viral video exposing officers extorting motorists near the Lagos airport, while the implicated officers were subsequently disciplined.
Commissioner Jimoh maintained that Sowore had been cautioned weeks earlier against entering Lagos, citing intelligence reports suggesting plans to incite unrest.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has defended the demolitions, stating they were carried out in line with a long-standing urban master plan and safety regulations prohibiting structures on gas pipeline corridors.
"The government compensated those affected, and the media witnessed it. There is no justification to provoke a crisis under the guise of protest," Jimoh said.
The situation remains tense in parts of Lagos as security forces continue to monitor developments around the Oworonshoki axis.
READ ALSO: Lawyer Denied Access to Arrested Omoyele Sowore in Abuja
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