Police Arrest 11 Suspects After Sowore's Attack in Ekiti

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects linked to the attack on Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, and others at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

The police said that officers from the Rapid Response Squad arrested the suspects at their hideouts in the Atikankan area around 10 p.m. on Friday after receiving a tip-off.

The command shared this news in a statement released on Saturday by its Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday.

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 continued, "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 include 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.

Police recovered various items from the suspects. These included two walkie-talkies, substances believed 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 stated that investigations are ongoing to identify the specific roles of the suspects and their connections 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 guilty would face justice.

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

It also mentioned that the police are committed to protecting lives and property while ensuring peace and security in the state, regardless of political affiliations.

The police confirmed that Sowore and the other victims have recovered from their injuries and have 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 said.

The attack led to a disagreement between Sowore and the Ekiti State Police Command regarding what happened during the incident. Both sides have different accounts of the events at the restaurant.

The police initially described the incident as an altercation involving Sowore and some people at Tawakalitu Restaurant, stating that Sowore was injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.

But Sowore rejected this claim, insisting there was no altercation but a planned attack by armed men.

In a statement, he accused the police of trying to minimize the incident. He said the Commissioner of Police visited the scene and noticed the injuries but still referred to it as an altercation.

"There was no altercation! We were attacked!" Sowore stated.

He later claimed that armed men beat him and threatened to kill him during the attack. He also accused the assailants of targeting him and his team, raising worries about their safety.

The African Action Congress also expressed concern about the incident, alleging that Sowore and other party members were attacked in Ado-Ekiti and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.

This disagreement led to a public back-and-forth between Sowore and the police, with Sowore challenging the police’s description of the incident and demanding accountability for the attackers.

The recent arrests come as the police continue their investigation into the incident.