The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects in connection with the alleged attack on the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his entourage at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The arrests followed an operation by operatives of the Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS), who reportedly raided the suspects’ hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, following what the police described as credible intelligence.
The command announced the arrests in a statement issued on Saturday by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abutu Sunday.
According to the police, the suspects were arrested in connection with the incident at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, where Sowore and other individuals sustained injuries during the confrontation.
The 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.
Police Recover 13 Phones, Walkie-Talkies, Eight Passports
The police disclosed that several items were recovered during the operation, including two walkie-talkies, 13 mobile phones, seven ATM cards, two vehicle keys, a flash drive and an MTN 5G Wi-Fi device.
Other items reportedly recovered included eight international passports, identity cards, three complimentary cards, two suspected criminal charms, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, two cannabis crushers, a pack of Rizla, a gas lighter and ₦250.
The command said the suspects remained in police custody while investigations continued to establish their individual roles, determine their possible connections with the attack and identify other persons who might have participated in the incident.
Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, assured residents that the command would ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.
The police also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and provide credible information that could assist investigators.
The command further confirmed that Sowore and the other victims had received medical attention, been treated and discharged from the hospital.
Sowore Rejects Police Account, Demands Arrest Of Sponsors
Reacting to the arrests, Sowore insisted that the incident was not an ordinary disagreement or altercation, as initially suggested by the police, but a coordinated attack allegedly carried out by armed men.
In a post on X on Saturday, the AAC presidential aspirant welcomed the arrests but maintained that apprehending 11 suspects would not be sufficient if those who allegedly planned, financed and coordinated the operation were not identified and prosecuted.
He also called for investigations into the alleged involvement of individuals associated with the City Boys group, while demanding that possible connections between the attackers and officials of the Ekiti State Government be thoroughly investigated.
Sowore specifically challenged the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to secure and release relevant CCTV footage from the restaurant to help establish what happened and identify everyone involved.
He wrote: “Arresting 11 suspects is not enough if those who planned, financed, coordinated and facilitated the attack remain untouched.”
He also demanded an explanation from the police over their initial decision to describe the incident as an altercation rather than an attack.
How The Disagreement Between Sowore And Ekiti Police Started
The arrests came amid growing controversy over the circumstances surrounding the incident, with Sowore and the Ekiti State Police Command offering different accounts of what transpired at the restaurant.
Sowore initially raised an alarm on his X account at about 1:54 p.m., alleging that he and members of his team had been attacked by armed, government-sponsored individuals in Ado-Ekiti.
The activist also alleged that DSS operatives had been trailing and harassing his team since their arrival in the state.
He further claimed that the alleged attackers had government backing and accused security operatives of being involved in the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The police, however, dismissed reports that Sowore had been kidnapped, explaining that their operatives responded to a distress call and rescued those affected.
In its initial account, the command described the incident as an altercation between Sowore and some unidentified individuals at a restaurant in the Dalimore area.
The police also confirmed that Sowore sustained injuries and was taken to the Police Cottage Hospital in Ado-Ekiti for medical attention.
Police Say Sowore Failed To Notify Command Of His Visit
In another development, the Ekiti State Police Command reportedly faulted Sowore for failing to formally notify it of his arrival and movements within the state.
In a statement the police spokesperson, Abutu Sunday, said informing the command of his visit would have enabled the authorities to make adequate security arrangements and provide necessary protection during his stay.
The police also disclosed that Sowore was discharged from the hospital at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday and returned to Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, where he had initially lodged.
The command further claimed that efforts to obtain his formal statement and personal account of the incident were unsuccessful, alleging that he declined several requests to assist the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, Sowore rejected the police characterisation of the incident as a mere altercation, maintaining that he and his entourage were victims of a deliberate assault.
AAC Raises Alarm, Calls For Independent Investigation
The African Action Congress has also criticised the handling of the incident, accusing the authorities of attempting to downplay the seriousness of the alleged attack.
The party alleged that members of Sowore’s team suffered injuries and that some personal belongings, including mobile phones, wristwatches and shoes, were stolen during the incident.
The party also questioned the circumstances surrounding the handling of CCTV footage from the restaurant and called for an independent investigation into the alleged roles of security agencies and political actors.
The AAC reportedly described the incident as a possible coordinated assassination plot and demanded investigations into the alleged involvement of the Ekiti State Government, the police and the DSS.
It also called for the release of relevant CCTV footage, recovery of the alleged stolen belongings and adequate protection for Sowore and members of his team.
The party warned that failure by the authorities to take decisive action could lead to protests at the Ekiti State Government House.
Investigation Continues As Pressure Mounts On Police
With 11 suspects now in custody, attention has shifted to the outcome of the police investigation and whether the arrests will lead to the identification of other individuals allegedly connected to the incident.
Key questions remain unanswered, including the circumstances that led to the confrontation, the identities of those who allegedly organised the attack, the reported theft of personal belongings and the availability of CCTV recordings that could provide further evidence.
As of Saturday, October 31, the 11 suspects remained in police custody, while investigations continued.