The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, has officially declared prominent human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, wanted. This declaration stems from Sowore’s alleged involvement in plans to incite public disorder and obstruct major thoroughfares in Lagos, particularly the Third Mainland Bridge, in connection with ongoing protests against demolitions in the Oworonshoki community.

Commissioner Jimoh, addressing journalists at the Iyana-Oworo section of the Third Mainland Bridge, accused Sowore of attempting to instigate unrest and mobilize residents against the state government's demolition exercises. He warned that Sowore should surrender at the nearest police station or face arrest, stressing that any attempt to cause disturbance or block roads would be met with the full force of the law. Intelligence reports cited by the police indicated plans for demonstrations at strategic locations including the Third Mainland Bridge, Lekki Tollgate, and Freedom Park, actions which Jimoh explicitly stated would not be tolerated due to potential hardship for Lagosians and structural risks to critical infrastructure.

The declaration by the police chief came amidst escalating tension in Oworonshoki, where residents were staging protests against the alleged illegal demolition of their homes. These demolitions, described by the state government as part of an urban renewal drive to clear illegal structures and criminal hideouts, have drawn severe criticism from civil rights groups and affected families. Protesters, many of whom are displaced residents, claimed their houses were demolished without prior notice or adequate compensation, leading to numerous families being rendered homeless. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana and other activists have accused the Lagos State Government of violating a subsisting court injunction restraining further demolitions.

The protest on Monday was spearheaded by the 'Take It Back' movement, with Omoyele Sowore making good on his promise to attend. His arrival at the scene, following his recent release from Kuje prison in Abuja—an arrest linked to his involvement in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest on October 20—was met with a strong police response. Reports indicate that police officers, reportedly acting under directives from Commissioner Jimoh and possibly the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, massively deployed teargas to disperse the crowd. This heavy-handed approach led to chaos, injuries, and the arrest of at least seven, and by some accounts, up to thirteen protesters, whom Jimoh controversially labeled as "miscreants and hoodlums."

Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes, with bulldozers tearing through residential buildings and shops under police supervision. One distraught protester tragically reported losing his eight-month-pregnant wife during the demolition exercise, highlighting the severe human cost of the state's actions. Sowore himself, along with other landowners, was attacked by police personnel. He later expressed suspicions that specific instructions had been given to some policemen to kill him at the scene, a concern he shared in a Facebook Live broadcast where he condemned the police actions and linked them to Nigeria's broader societal issues.

Reacting to being declared wanted, Sowore confirmed the development on his social media platforms, noting that his repeated attempts to contact Commissioner Jimoh for clarification had gone unanswered. Despite the police's threats and the declaration, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, affirmed that the protests would continue. He, along with Secretary Abdulaziz Olamide, condemned the unprovoked attacks on peaceful demonstrators and vowed that activists would remain resolute in demanding justice for Oworonshoki residents, advocating for engagement rather than repression.

The police maintained a heavy presence around Iyana-Oworo and access routes to the Third Mainland Bridge, with patrol vehicles strategically stationed to prevent any unlawful assembly or obstruction. Commissioner Jimoh had earlier warned Sowore against coming to Lagos for the protest and emphasized that blocking the bridge could endanger commuters due to structural safety concerns. The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, also weighed in on the issue, urging the state government to pursue urban renewal in a more compassionate manner that protects its residents, reflecting a growing call for human-centric development in Africa’s largest city.