The Lagos State Police Command has declared activist Omoyele Sowore wanted, accusing him of planning to incite public disorder and obstruct major roads in the state.
Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, disclosed the development to journalists on Monday at the Iyana-Oworo section of the Third Mainland Bridge. He stated that the command was closing in on Sowore and others accused of coordinating activities intended to disrupt public peace.
“Sowore should surrender at the nearest police station or face arrest wherever he is found,” Jimoh warned. He stressed that anyone attempting to cause disturbance or block roads would face the full weight of the law.
Intelligence reports indicated plans by Sowore and his associates to stage demonstrations at strategic locations, including the Third Mainland Bridge, Lekki Tollgate, and Freedom Park. The Commissioner described the alleged plan as criminal, warning it could trigger severe traffic congestion and endanger lives.
“It is only someone who needs examination that would attempt to block such a vital route used by thousands daily,” he said.
The police revealed that 13 suspects had been arrested in connection with the planned protest, while Sowore allegedly fled. Investigations are ongoing to identify sponsors and collaborators.
Jimoh announced that officers had been deployed across key areas, especially major bridges and highways, where roadblocks and diversions were temporarily in place to safeguard peace and protect critical infrastructure. He noted that such measures were temporary.
He cautioned that the Third Mainland Bridge was not designed to hold stationary weight, stating, “Any gathering on it could pose structural risks.”
The Commissioner also addressed tensions linked to recent demolitions in parts of Lagos, stating that eligible residents had already received compensation. “The government compensated those affected, and the media witnessed it. There is no justification to provoke crisis under the guise of protest,” he said.
He urged Lagos residents to continue their normal activities without fear, assuring that security agencies were fully deployed to maintain order.
“We are not sleeping. We will apprehend, investigate, and prosecute anyone attempting to undermine public safety in Lagos,” he said, reaffirming the command’s commitment to enforcing the law. He stressed that freedom of expression must not turn into public nuisance or risk lives.
Source: NAN
