Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoleye Sowore, may have been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force over a video he shared on social media showing some police officers allegedly extorting money from motorists in Lagos.
The video Sowore shared on January 9 captured an altercation between police officers stationed on Murtala Mohammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos, and motorists, with the security personnel apparently extorting money from the victims.
The video showed some Nigerian police officers stopping vehicles on the road, including Sowore’s and saw him confronting the officers, criticizing them for creating unnecessary traffic on the airport road and emphasized that their actions were inappropriate and disruptive.
In the video, the activist and convener of the “Take-It-Back-Movement is heard telling the officers:
“We are not parking. You are not supposed to be causing traffic on the airport road. We are not parking. Go and bring your Oga. You people should calm down.”
But despite the objections, the police officers stood in front of Sowore’s car and firmly refused to back down, insisting he park. Sowore, however, refused and firmly demanded that the officers clear the road.
Eventually, one of the officers instructed his colleagues to allow Sowore to proceed. As he drove off, one officer was heard saying:
“God punish you,” to which Sowore promptly responded, “God punish you too.”
Shortly after the altercation, Sowore posted the video on Tiktok and X with the caption:
‘Operation Resist @PoliceNG extortion on Nigerian highways! #RevolutionNow”
Operation Resist @PoliceNG extortion on Nigerian highways! #RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/pRk05wby1Y
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) January 9, 2025
With the video going viral on Sowore’s X and TikTok accounts, the police may have now launched a manhunt for the activist.
The move, allegedly initiated by Force spokesperson, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi is likely to have after days of deliberation and persistent appeals to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to take action against Sowore.
This was made known by Sowore himself in a post on his X handle on Wednesday night where he said the police have declared him wanted over the vexatious video.
“I have been informed that the Nigeria Police Force @PoliceNG is searching for me. I am currently in Abuja and available at their convenience. It appears that the new year is about to start on a positive note! #Revolutionnow” he wrote.
I have been informed that the Nigeria Police Force @PoliceNG is searching for me. I am currently in Abuja and available at their convenience. It appears that the new year is about to start on a positive note! #Revolutionnow pic.twitter.com/cFvoUF4wey
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) January 22, 2025