The Lagos State Police Command on Monday declared Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore wanted for allegedly planning a protest aimed at disrupting public order.
Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh made the announcement at Iyana-Oworo on the Third Mainland Bridge, accusing Sowore of instigating unrest during demonstrations against government 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.
In response to the protest threat, police deployed armoured vehicles and hundreds of officers across Lagos, sealing off access to Oworonshoki and dispersing protesters with tear gas.
Sowore, who had earlier arrived at the site, accused security forces of operating under “shoot-to-kill” orders before leaving the area.
The protest was sparked by the demolition of homes built along a pipeline corridor, with residents claiming that compensation from authorities was inadequate.
The police commissioner described the alleged plan as criminal, warning it could cause 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,” Jimoh said.
Police confirmed that 13 suspects had been arrested in connection with the planned protest, while Sowore reportedly fled. Investigations are ongoing to identify other collaborators and sponsors.
Sowore, recently released from detention in Abuja after the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, has faced multiple charges including treason and cyberstalking, and has repeatedly clashed with authorities over his activism.
In January, he was questioned over a viral video showing officers allegedly extorting motorists near Lagos airport; those officers were later disciplined.
On October 27, Jimoh had warned Sowore against entering Lagos, citing intelligence suggesting planned disturbances.
Police maintained a heavy presence at major points including Ojota, Maryland, Lekki Toll Gate, and Bariga.
Sowore, dismissing the police warning as a “badge of honour,” shared live footage of the protest and the deployment of tear gas on social media.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State government defended the demolitions, citing a 1990s urban master plan and safety concerns over illegal constructions along gas pipelines.
Jimoh added that eligible residents had already received compensation.
“The government compensated those affected, and the media witnessed it. There is no justification to provoke a crisis under the guise of protest,” the commissioner said.
