Omoyele Sowore wanted by Lagos Police as CP Moshood Jimoh reaffirms arrest order, citing constitutional powers to prevent public disturbance
Omoyele Sowore wanted by Lagos Police has once again become a headline issue after the state’s Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, reaffirmed that the activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) remains on the police wanted list for allegedly attempting to incite public disturbance.
Also read: Omoyele Sowore declared wanted by Lagos Police
Speaking at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja on Monday, Jimoh said Sowore was declared wanted following intelligence reports that he planned to mobilise protesters to block the Third Mainland Bridge, an act he described as a direct threat to public safety and national stability.
According to the CP, although a lawyer representing Sowore had earlier contacted the command seeking clarification on how the activist could submit himself, the activist has yet to honour that invitation.
“There is no time limit for arresting Sowore. He has been declared wanted, and wherever he is seen within Lagos State, he will be arrested,” Jimoh stated.
“I have not been served any court order restraining me from arresting him. The police are a respecter of the law. If there’s any order, I will comply.”
Citing Sections 215 (1b), (4), and (5) of the Nigerian Constitution, Jimoh argued that the law empowers him as Commissioner to act decisively to preserve public order, lives, and property.
He insisted that he did not require a court warrant to issue a wanted declaration against anyone whose actions could endanger public peace.
“As Commissioner of Police, it is my constitutional duty to be proactive in ensuring that anybody who wants to cause mayhem, destroy property, or threaten lives in Lagos is declared wanted,” he added firmly.
Jimoh also defended the police’s handling of protest-related incidents, warning that attempts to block major roads such as the Third Mainland Bridge could have devastating economic and safety implications.
In his remarks, prominent activist Dr Segun Awosanya (Segalink) commended the police for their efforts to maintain peace, cautioning that the misuse of activism for personal or financial gain has damaged the nation’s moral fabric.
“We have seen how people call themselves activists only to endanger society. It makes policing far more difficult,” Awosanya said.
This marks the third time the Lagos Police Command has declared Sowore wanted over alleged plans to lead protests in the Oworonshoki area following demolition exercises by the state government.
However, Sowore, a known human rights advocate and journalist, has dismissed the declaration as unlawful, arguing that no police officer has the power to declare anyone wanted without a court-issued warrant.
He also claimed that the declaration was a retaliatory move after officers allegedly refused to carry out a “shoot-at-sight order” during an earlier protest — a claim that the CP has strongly denied.
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The Omoyele Sowore wanted by Lagos Police saga continues to underscore the growing tension between law enforcement authorities and civil rights movements in Nigeria, reigniting debate about the balance between activism, law enforcement, and constitutional rights.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
