Police Arrest 11 Suspects Linked To Attack On Sowore In Ekiti

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

The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10pm on Friday, October 30, 2026, following a tip-off.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday.

According to the police, the suspects were arrested over the alleged attack on Sowore and others at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of the town.

The statement said, “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 that the arrests followed credible intelligence about the suspects’ whereabouts.

“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 statement added.

The police identified the suspects 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 allegedly recovered from the suspects 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 items listed by the command were two vehicle keys, a flash drive, an MTN 5G Wi-Fi device, identity cards, eight international passports, three complimentary cards, two suspected criminal charms, a gas lighter and N250.

The command said investigations were ongoing to determine the individual roles of the suspects, establish any links they might have to the attack and identify other persons who may have been involved.

“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 said.

The Commissioner of Police, Falade Michael, assured residents that the command would ensure that anyone found responsible for the incident faced the law.

According to the statement, Michael said the police “will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all those found culpable are brought to justice.”

He reiterated the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property and maintaining peace and security across Ekiti State, regardless of political affiliations.

The police also confirmed that Sowore and the other victims had received medical treatment and been discharged from the 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 added.

The arrests followed a public disagreement between Sowore and the Ekiti State Police Command over the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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

Sowore, however, rejected the account, insisting that he and members of his entourage were subjected to a coordinated attack by armed men rather than being involved in an altercation.

The activist accused the police of attempting to downplay the incident, alleging that the Commissioner of Police had visited the scene and witnessed the injuries sustained by the victims but still characterised the incident as an altercation.

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

He subsequently alleged that armed men assaulted him and threatened to kill him during the incident. He also raised concerns about the safety of his entourage members, claiming they were among those targeted.

The African Action Congress also condemned the incident, alleging that Sowore and other party members were attacked in Ado-Ekiti and calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault.