The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has alleged that human rights activist Omoyele Sowore lacks a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, claiming he evaded the mandatory national service.
Jimoh made the statement on Wednesday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he responded to Sowore’s recent criticism of his competence and the police’s declaration of him as wanted.
“During his interview, he said the commissioner of police is not competent. I’m very competent; I’ve been here for more than nine months… I want to make it abundantly clear that Sowore doesn’t have NYSC certificate because of punitive reason,” Jimoh said.
The police chief further claimed that Sowore was posted to Adamawa State for his NYSC but refused to participate.
“He was posted to Adamawa and he was evasive, he never did the service,” he added.
Jimoh argued that someone who did not complete the national service was unqualified to criticise the police or mobilise protests.
“Such kind of person that’s not even qualified to bear the NYSC certificate of our great country Nigeria, will now be calling out miscreants to come and disturb the peace of Lagos, we will not allow it. So, my pronouncement that he’s declared wanted still stands,” he said.
The police had earlier declared Sowore wanted over alleged plans to instigate public unrest in Lagos.
In response, Sowore dismissed the accusations, claiming that the police commissioner had ignored his calls despite repeated attempts to reach him.
He described the move as an attempt to silence him and divert attention from the controversy surrounding the demolition of properties in Oworonshoki, where police had earlier dispersed a community gathering.
