Police Arrest 11 Over Attack on Sowore in Ekiti

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects in connection with the attack on African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and other people at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

The police said operatives of the Rapid Response Squad arrested the suspects at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of the town at about 10pm on Friday, October 30, following a tip-off.

The command announced the arrests in a statement issued on Saturday by its Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday.

The statement read, “The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested eleven (11) suspects in connection with the alleged attack on Mr Omoyele Sowore, an African Action Congress (AAC) presidential aspirant, and other persons at Tawakalitu Restaurant, Dalimore Area of Ado-Ekiti.”

It added, “Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), based on a credible tip-off, swooped on the hideouts of the suspects at Atikankan Area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, where they were arrested.”

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

Items recovered from them included two walkie-talkies, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, two Indian hemp crushers, a pack of Rizla, seven ATM cards and 13 mobile phones.

Other recovered items were two vehicle keys, a flash drive, a 5G MTN Wi-Fi device, identity cards, eight international passports, three complimentary cards, two suspected criminal charms, a gas lighter and N250.

The police said investigations were ongoing to establish the individual roles of the suspects and determine their possible links to the attack.

“The suspects are in police custody, while investigations are ongoing to establish their individual roles, determine their possible connections with the attack and identify other persons involved,” the statement added.

The Commissioner of Police, Falade Michael, assured residents that anyone found culpable would face justice.

The statement quoted him as saying that the command “will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all those found culpable are brought to justice.”

It added that the command remained committed to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace and security across the state, regardless of political affiliations.

The police also confirmed that Sowore and the other victims had recovered from their injuries and been discharged from hospital.

“Meanwhile, the command wishes to reconfirm that all the victims, including Mr Sowore, have received medical attention, been treated and discharged from the hospital,” the statement read.

The incident sparked a disagreement between Sowore and the Ekiti State Police Command over the circumstances surrounding the attack, with both sides offering different accounts of what happened at the restaurant.

The police had initially described the incident as an altercation involving Sowore and some individuals at Tawakalitu Restaurant, saying the AAC presidential aspirant sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

However, Sowore rejected the police account, insisting that there was no altercation but a coordinated attack by armed men.

In a statement, he accused the police of attempting to downplay the incident, claiming that the Commissioner of Police had visited the scene and seen the injuries sustained by the victims but still described the incident as an altercation.

“There was no altercation! We were attacked!” Sowore declared.

He later alleged that armed men beat him and threatened to kill him during the incident. He also accused the attackers of targeting him and members of his entourage, raising concerns about their safety.