Sowore Reacts to Police Declaration, Accuses IGP of “Shoot on Sight” Order

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has fired back at the Lagos State Police Command following reports that he was declared wanted for allegedly planning to incite public unrest and block major roads in Lagos.

In a fiery statement released via his verified X (Twitter) handle on Monday, Sowore accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and Lagos Police Commissioner, Moshood Jimoh, of attempting to silence him for his activism under the pretext of maintaining public order.

“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,” Sowore wrote.

The #RevolutionNow convener said that despite repeated attempts to reach the Commissioner of Police for clarification, his calls went unanswered. However, he vowed to meet with the Commissioner personally to confront the allegations.

“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,” he stated.

Sowore drew parallels between the current situation and what he described as a similar episode in 1994, when he was a student leader at the University of Lagos.

He alleged that the then-Lagos Police Commissioner, James Danbaba, in collaboration with university authorities, orchestrated an attempt on his life after a student protest.

“When this attempt failed, he declared me wanted after violently arresting all the student union leaders and falsely charging them for armed robbery. They also expelled us from UNILAG,” Sowore recounted.

He went further to link the 1994 incident to broader political repression under the regime of the late General Sani Abacha, noting that Danbaba was later arrested alongside Major Hamza Al-Mustapha for aiding attacks on opposition figures such as Kudirat Abiola and Alex Ibru. “He died a miserable death years later,” Sowore added.

Drawing comparisons to current events, Sowore accused the present Inspector General, Egbetokun, of “walking the same dangerous path” as repressive figures of the past.

“Today, two decades later, Nigeria’s illegally appointed Police Inspector General, Kayode Egbetokun, appears to be following a similar dangerous path. I was informed that he dispatched police officers to ambush me today. When this attempt failed, they declared me wanted,” he alleged.

The activist’s statement comes just hours after the Lagos Police Commissioner told journalists that Sowore had been declared wanted for allegedly plotting to disrupt public order through planned demonstrations at major locations, including Third Mainland Bridge, Lekki Tollgate, and Freedom Park.

Thirteen suspects were reportedly arrested in connection with the planned protest, while Sowore was said to have fled.

However, Sowore insists that the police narrative is false and politically motivated, vowing to continue his activism despite what he described as “state intimidation.”

“They can’t silence us. The Nigerian people have a right to protest and demand accountability,” he said.

The situation continues to draw national attention as human rights organizations and pro-democracy activists monitor the unfolding developments between Sowore and the Nigeria Police Force.