Police Arrest 11 Suspects Over Attack on Sowore in Ekiti, Recover 13 Phones, Eight Passports

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects in connection with the attack on activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his entourage at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

The arrests followed a police operation conducted by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), who reportedly stormed the suspects’ hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10pm on Friday, October 30, following credible intelligence.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the suspects were arrested over their alleged involvement in the attack at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of the state capital.

The arrested suspects were identified as Joseph Tayo, 32; Olatunji Abayomi, 41; Isaac Amba, 22; Kehinde Ajigbana, 18; Tosin David, 18; Solomon Iyanu, 18; Ogunsola Ayomide, 21; Ojo Ayodeji, 22; Kayode Dada, 32; Segun Olatunji, 28; and Salami Emmanuel, 53.

Items recovered during the operation included two walkie-talkies, 13 mobile phones, eight international passports, seven ATM cards, two vehicle keys, a flash drive and an MTN 5G Wi-Fi device.

Other recovered items were substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, two Indian hemp crushers, a pack of Rizla, identity cards, three complimentary cards, two suspected criminal charms, a gas lighter and N250 cash.

The police said investigations were ongoing to establish the individual roles of the suspects, determine their possible connections with the attack and identify other persons who might have participated in the incident.

The Commissioner of Police, Falade Michael, assured residents that the command would ensure that everyone found culpable was brought to justice.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace across the state, irrespective of political affiliations.

The police also confirmed that Sowore and other victims of the incident had received medical attention, recovered from their injuries and been discharged from the hospital.

Police, Sowore disagree over attack

The arrests come amid controversy over the circumstances surrounding the attack, which triggered a public disagreement between Sowore and the Ekiti State Police Command.

While the police initially described the incident as an altercation between Sowore and some individuals at the restaurant, the activist strongly rejected the account, insisting that he and members of his entourage were victims of a coordinated attack.

Sowore accused the police of attempting to downplay the incident, alleging that armed men attacked and beat him and threatened to kill him.

“There was no altercation! We were attacked!” he declared while challenging the police account.

The activist further alleged that the attackers deliberately targeted him and members of his entourage, raising concerns over their safety.

The African Action Congress also condemned the incident and called for a thorough investigation to establish those behind the assault and ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice.

The latest arrests represent a significant development in the investigation, although the police have yet to establish publicly the specific roles of the suspects or confirm whether they were directly involved in the attack.

The command said the suspects remained in custody as investigations continued.