The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects in connection with the attack on African Action Congress (AAC) presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his team at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti.
The suspects were reportedly apprehended by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of the state capital at about 10pm on Friday following a tip-off.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Saturday, disclosing that several items suspected to be connected to criminal activities were recovered during the operation.
The arrested individuals 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.
Items recovered from them included two walkie-talkies, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, two cannabis crushers, a pack of Rizla, seven ATM cards and 13 mobile phones.
The police also listed 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 ₦250 among the recovered items.
The command said investigations were ongoing to determine the individual roles of the suspects and establish whether other persons were involved in the incident.
The Commissioner of Police, Falade Michael, assured residents that the command would ensure that anyone found responsible was brought to justice.
He said the police “will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all those found culpable are brought to justice.”
Reacting to the development, Sowore insisted that the arrest of the 11 suspects should not mark the end of the investigation, demanding that those who allegedly organised and financed the attack should also be identified and apprehended.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, the activist described the incident as a coordinated attack rather than a mere disagreement.
“Arresting 11 suspects is not enough if those who planned, financed, coordinated and facilitated the attack remain untouched,” he wrote.
Sowore further alleged that some of the attackers were linked to the City Boys group and called for investigations into possible connections between the incident and officials of the Ekiti State Government.
He also urged the police commissioner and the Department of State Services (DSS) to secure and release CCTV recordings from the restaurant to help establish the identities of everyone involved.
The AAC presidential aspirant additionally questioned the police’s initial description of the incident as an altercation, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the attack required a thorough investigation.
He maintained that the authorities must go beyond the immediate suspects and establish whether there were individuals who allegedly sponsored or facilitated the violence.
