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The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects in connection with the physical assault on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and members of his team at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti.
Command officials disclosed that operatives from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) apprehended the suspects during a late-night raid on their hideout in the Atikankan area of the state capital at approximately 10:00 p.m. on Friday, following operational intelligence.
The arrest was confirmed in an official statement released on Saturday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday.
“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,” the statement read.
“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.
Police authorities identified the arrested individuals 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 confiscated during the raid included two walkie-talkies, illicit substances suspected to be cannabis and Colorado, two grinders, rolling papers, seven ATM cards, and 13 mobile phones.
Law enforcement officers also recovered two sets of car keys, a flash drive, a 5G mobile Wi-Fi router, identity documents, eight international passports, business cards, suspected criminal charms, a gas lighter, and ₦250 in cash.
The command stated that interrogations are active to determine the level of involvement of each suspect and identify any broader linkages to the assault.
“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 spokesperson noted.
Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, reassured the public that the command will prosecute all individuals linked to the violence.
The commissioner emphasized that the police force “will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all those found culpable are brought to justice,” adding that security agencies remain committed to safeguarding lives and property without political bias.
Police authorities also confirmed that Sowore and other injured members of his entourage received medical evaluation, were successfully treated, 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 noted.
The arrests follow a public dispute between Sowore and the Ekiti State Police Command regarding the official classification of the incident.
Police initially reported the encounter at Tawakalitu Restaurant as an “altercation,” a framing Sowore strongly rejected, alleging a coordinated, targeted ambush by armed men who threatened his life.
“There was no altercation! We were attacked!” Sowore insisted, accusing police leadership of attempting to minimize political violence ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
The African Action Congress (AAC) had earlier issued a national call urging the Inspector-General of Police and state authorities to guarantee Sowore’s safety and bring both the attackers and their sponsors to justice.
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