Police in Ekiti have arrested 11 suspects in connection with the alleged attack on Omoyele Sowore, African Action Congress presidential candidate, and other persons at Tawakalitu restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday, said in a statement on Saturday that operatives of the rapid response squad (RRS) arrested the suspects at about 10pm on Friday at their hideout in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The statement reads, “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.
“Items recovered include two walkie-talkies, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, two Indian hemp crushers, one pack of Rizla, seven ATM cards, thirteen mobile phones, two vehicle keys, one flash drive, one 5G MTN Wi-Fi device, identity cards, eight international passports, three complimentary cards, two suspected criminal charms, one gas lighter and N250.”
Sunday said the suspects had been taken into custody, adding that investigations were ongoing to establish their individual roles in the attack, determine their possible connections and identify other persons involved.
On Friday, Sowore accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of aiding “government-sponsored thugs” to attack him and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti.
In a post on X, the activist shared photos of himself and one of his aides on hospital beds, alleging that the attackers came from the Ekiti Government House with the backing of the DSS.
He further alleged that DSS operatives had been trailing and harassing his team since they arrived in the state a day earlier.
Sowore said the incident occurred shortly after he completed an interview on Midas FM 90.5 in the state capital.
He also dismissed the state commissioner of police’s description of the incident as “mere altercations”.
The DSS had yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
However, the Ekiti police command said Sowore failed to notify it of his arrival and movements in the state.
In a statement issued on Friday, the state police spokesperson said such notification would have enabled the police to make adequate security arrangements and provide the necessary protection during his stay.
He also said Sowore had been discharged from hospital following the alleged attack.
The command also dismissed reports alleging that Sowore was kidnapped by armed thugs in Ado-Ekiti and that his whereabouts were unknown.
