The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, has reportedly declared Omoyele Sowore “wanted” for allegedly causing a “disturbance of public peace” in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos.
According to the individual, the declaration followed what he described as the police’s failure to carry out an alleged “shoot-on-sight” order said to have been issued by the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
In a statement shared on Monday, the individual alleged that Commissioner Jimoh had ordered his arrest after security operatives were unable to execute the purported directive.
“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 Oworonshoki today,” Sowore posted on is X account.
He further stated that despite several attempts to reach Commissioner Jimoh directly, the police chief had not taken his calls.
“Nevertheless, I plan to meet with him soon to address his declaration,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command had not issued an official statement confirming or denying the alleged declaration or the claim of a “shoot-on-sight” directive. Efforts to reach the command’s spokesperson for clarification were unsuccessful.
The allegations, if true, mark a serious escalation in the tense relationship between the police and some activists in the state. Human rights observers have called for transparency from the police authorities, urging them to clarify the nature of the incident and ensure due process is followed.
Meanwhile, civil society groups have expressed concern over what they describe as a pattern of intimidation of critics by security agencies.
They emphasised that any declaration of a citizen as “wanted” must follow the rule of law, with clear evidence of wrongdoing and an opportunity for fair hearing.
