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Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has reacted to his being declared wanted by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh.
Sowore, who confirmed the development on his social media handles, said despite several attempts to reach the Commissioner Jimoh to clarify the matter, his calls had gone unanswered.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the CP declared Sowore wanted over what he described as “public disturbance” linked to protests against the illegal demolition of houses in Oworonshoki community, Lagos.
But reacting, Sowore said, “The Lagos Police Commissioner, Moshood Jimoh, has reportedly declared me ‘wanted’ for ‘disturbance of public peace’, allegedly as a result of his officers’ inability to execute a ‘shoot on sight’ order given by his illegal IGP, Kayode Egbetokun in Oworonsoki today.
“Despite my repeated attempts to contact Nigeria Police Force Commissioner Jimoh, he has not taken my calls; nevertheless, I plan to meet with him soon to address his declaration.”
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the police clamped down on protesting residents in Oworonshoki, Lagos State, who were demonstrating over the alleged illegal demolition of residential buildings in the community.
Witnesses told SaharaReporters that the protesters, mostly displaced families, were chanting solidarity songs and demanding that the government halt further demolitions and provide alternative shelter.
Videos circulating online show bulldozers tearing through residential buildings and shops as armed policemen supervised the operation.
Earlier, police officers fired teargas canisters to disperse residents and activists who had gathered to protest what they called the “illegal and inhuman demolition” of their homes by officials of the Lagos State Government.
SaharaReporters learnt that fiery human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and land owners in Oworonshoki were attacked by the personnel of the Lagos State Police Command.
The protest on Monday was led by the Take It Back movement.
SaharaReporters learnt that the police contingent began to use teargas massively as soon as Sowore arrived the scene of the rally and was finding his way to meet the protesters.
Sowore had made good on his promise to attend the protest since last week soon after he was released from the Kuje prison in Abuja.
His illegal arrest and detention in Abuja followed the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest that was held in Abuja on October 20, leading Abuja to a shutdown.
SaharaReporters learnt that the Lagos Police Commissioner, Moshood Jimoh, was seen earlier on the day directing several policemen to stop Sowore at all cost.
The CP Jimoh had threatened Sowore last week Monday not to come to Lagos for the protest but the activist replied that he would come to Oworonsoki today (Monday) and he made good on that promise.
Sowore later left the scene after raising the suspicion that the IGP had given specific instructions to some policemen to kill him at the scene of the protest.
He later addressed his followers on Facebook live condemning the police and explaining that this was the reason Nigeria is in a mess and attracting outsiders like US president, Donald Trump to help save it.
