The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects over the alleged attack on Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), and other individuals at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti.
The command’s spokesperson, Abutu Sunday, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) apprehended the suspects around 10pm on Friday at their hideout in the Atikankan area of the state capital.
“The suspects are Joseph Tayo ’32yrs’, Olatunji Abayomi ’41yrs’, Isaac Amba ’22yrs’, Kehinde Ajigbana ’18yrs’, Tosin David ’18yrs’, Solomon Iyanu ’18yrs’, Ogunsola Ayomide ’21yrs’, Ojo Ayodeji ’22yrs’, Kayode Dada ’32yrs’, Segun Olatunji ’28yrs’ and Salami Emmanuel ’53yrs’,” the statement reads.
Police said several items were recovered from the suspects, including two walkie-talkies, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, two Indian hemp crushers, a pack of Rizla, seven ATM cards, 13 mobile phones, 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.
According to Sunday, the suspects are in custody as investigations continue to determine their individual roles in the alleged attack, establish possible connections and identify other people who may have been involved.
Sowore Accuses DSS of Supporting Attackers
The development follows Sowore’s allegation on Friday that the Department of State Services (DSS) supported “government-sponsored thugs” who attacked him and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti.
In a post on X, the activist shared photographs of himself and one of his aides receiving treatment in hospital. He alleged that the attackers came from the Ekiti Government House with the backing of the DSS.
Sowore also claimed that DSS operatives had been following and harassing his team since their arrival in the state a day earlier. He said the incident occurred shortly after he finished an interview with Midas FM 90.5 in Ado-Ekiti.
The activist rejected the state commissioner of police’s description of the incident as “mere altercations”. As of the report, the DSS had not issued an official response to his allegations.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti police command said Sowore did not notify it of his arrival and movements in the state, explaining that such information would have enabled officers to make adequate security arrangements and provide protection during his visit.
The command also confirmed that Sowore had been discharged from hospital following the alleged attack. It further dismissed reports claiming that he had been kidnapped by armed thugs in Ado-Ekiti and that his whereabouts were unknown.