Sowore Demands Immediate Release of Arrested Oworonshoki Anti-Demolition Protesters

Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, to immediately and unconditionally release the arrested bystanders and the sound truck belonging to Anti-Demolition protesters in Oworonshoki, Lagos.

Sowore, in a statement issued on Monday, condemned the arrest of peaceful demonstrators and residents, describing the police action as an abuse of power and a violation of citizens’ rights to freedom of assembly and expression.

He urged Commissioner Jimoh to act swiftly to ensure the release of all those detained during the protest, as well as the return of their confiscated property.

“The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, is hereby advised to release forthwith and unconditionally the arrested bystanders and the sound truck of Anti-Demolition protesters of Oworonsoki,” Sowore stated.

The protest, which took place in Oworonshoki, was reportedly organised by residents and activists opposing the ongoing demolition of houses and structures in the area. Witnesses said police officers dispersed the crowd with tear gas and made several arrests during the demonstration.

Meanwhile, Sowore has also responded to being declared wanted by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police stating that he should give him a time and place for them to meet up. He also accused him of illegally dispersing protesters who were fighting for their rights.

“In 1994, then-Lagos Police Commissioner James Danbaba, in connivance with the Vice-Chancellor and authorities at the University of Lagos, orchestrated an attempt on my life using campus gangs.

When this attempt failed, he declared me wanted after violently arresting all the student union leaders and falsely charging them with armed robbery; they also expelled us from UNILAG. Danbaba was later arrested alongside Major Al Mustapha for his role in aiding General Sani Abacha in several deadly attacks on opposition figures, including Kudirat Abiola and Alex Ibru. He died a miserable death years later!

Today, two decades later, Nigeria’s illegally appointed Nigeria Police Force 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.”