Sowore Questions 11 Arrests Over Ekiti Attack, Accuses Political Figures of Shielding Suspects
By CentralNewsNG News Desk | November 7, 2026
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has accused political figures and security officials of frustrating efforts to identify those responsible for the October 30 attack on him and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The activist alleged that individuals connected to the political establishment were being shielded despite claims that some people associated with the incident had been identified.
He also named an All Progressives Congress (APC) operative, Asiwaju Kasali Oluwafemi, whom he accused of making threats against him before the attack and celebrating the violence afterwards.
Sowore’s latest allegations have intensified the controversy surrounding the incident, particularly after the Ekiti State Police Command announced the arrest of 11 suspects.
The AAC candidate maintains that the arrests have not addressed the alleged involvement of individuals he considers the principal organisers or sponsors of the attack.
However, the allegations against the named individuals have not been established by an independent investigation, and the police have said their inquiries are continuing.
How the attack on Sowore happened
The incident occurred on October 30, 2026, at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti.
Sowore and members of his team had visited the state for political engagements ahead of the Ikogosi Marathon. The confrontation reportedly happened shortly after he completed an interview at MIDAS FM 90.5 in the state capital.
Sowore described the incident as an organised attack involving armed men who assaulted members of his entourage.
He alleged that some members of his security team were attacked and disarmed, while personal belongings, including mobile phones, were taken.
The activist also shared photographs showing injuries sustained by members of his team and accused security operatives of providing information that enabled the attackers to locate them.
The Ekiti State Police Command initially described the incident as an altercation between Sowore’s group and other individuals at a restaurant.
The command said officers responded to a distress call, intervened and ensured that the victims received medical attention.
The different accounts have since become a major part of the controversy, with Sowore insisting that the incident was a planned political assault rather than an ordinary confrontation.
Police arrest 11 suspects
On October 31, the Ekiti State Police Command announced that 11 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.
Police spokesperson Abutu Sunday said operatives of the Rapid Response Squad apprehended the suspects at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10 p.m. on October 30.
The command also listed items recovered during the operation, including two walkie-talkies, 13 mobile phones, seven ATM cards, two vehicle keys, a flash drive and eight international passports.
Other recovered items included substances suspected to be illicit drugs and several personal effects.
According to the police, investigations were ongoing to establish the individual roles of the suspects, determine their possible connections to the incident and identify other people who might have been involved.
The arrests represented an initial step in the investigation, but Sowore subsequently questioned whether the people apprehended included those he had publicly identified as allegedly participating in or organising the assault.
Sowore alleges political protection for suspected attackers
In subsequent statements, Sowore accused the Ekiti State Government and individuals associated with the political establishment of failing to ensure a transparent investigation.
He specifically raised questions about the possible involvement of people connected to Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration, President Bola Tinubu’s political circle and security agencies.
Among those he identified was Asiwaju Kasali Oluwafemi, whom he described as an APC operative and a director of the City Boy Movement in Ekiti State.
Sowore alleged that Oluwafemi had issued threats against him before the October 30 incident and celebrated the violence after it occurred.
The activist shared screenshots and other material which he said supported his allegations.
However, the material and the claims surrounding the individual’s alleged role require independent verification. No court finding has established that Oluwafemi organised, participated in or financed the attack.
Sowore has also called for investigations into several other individuals, including officials whose positions or associations, he believes, may be relevant to establishing what happened.
He maintains that the investigation should not end with the prosecution of those already arrested if there is evidence pointing to other participants or possible sponsors.
Dispute over CCTV footage and missing devices
Another major issue raised by Sowore concerns the handling of evidence from Tawakalitu Restaurant.
The activist alleged that police officers and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives took possession of the restaurant’s CCTV equipment after the incident.
He further claimed that the equipment was returned with its recordings erased.
Sowore argued that the surveillance footage could help investigators identify those involved and establish the sequence of events.
He also alleged that a mobile phone stolen from one of his team members was traced to the Governor’s Lodge in Ado-Ekiti.
These claims have not been independently established. The alleged location of the phone would require proper forensic examination, while the circumstances surrounding the CCTV equipment and its recordings need clarification from the relevant authorities.
Sowore has called for the preservation and forensic examination of available digital evidence, insisting that an independent investigation is necessary to address concerns about possible interference.
Ekiti Government rejects allegations
The Ekiti State Government has previously denied responsibility for the incident and rejected suggestions that it sponsored or encouraged an attack on the AAC presidential candidate.
In a statement issued through the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, the government dissociated itself from the violence and called on the police to investigate the incident and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
The government also defended its record on political tolerance and public safety, describing allegations linking it to the attack as unfounded.
The police, meanwhile, have maintained that their investigation is ongoing and that individuals found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The allegations involving the governor, his aides and security officials have not been proven, and those named are entitled to respond to claims made against them.
Sowore demands an independent investigation
Following the arrests, Sowore called on the Inspector-General of Police to establish an independent investigative team to examine the incident.
His demands include identifying the alleged principal attackers, tracing the missing devices, securing available CCTV evidence and investigating claims of possible involvement by political figures or security personnel.
He has also questioned the handling of the case by the Ekiti State Police Command and called for accountability among officers whose conduct he considers relevant to the investigation.
The activist argues that arresting 11 suspects will not provide a complete resolution if investigators fail to examine evidence pointing to other possible participants.
For the police, the central task is to establish the individual roles of those arrested, determine whether additional suspects are involved and present credible evidence capable of supporting prosecution.
Why the case matters ahead of the 2027 elections
The incident has raised broader concerns about the safety of political actors and the protection of democratic participation in Nigeria.
As political activities increase ahead of the 2027 general elections, attacks or threats involving opposition figures can undermine public confidence in the ability of security agencies to protect citizens regardless of their political affiliation.
The controversy also highlights the importance of transparent investigations when allegations involve government officials, political organisations and security agencies.
A credible outcome will require investigators to preserve evidence, question relevant witnesses, examine digital records and provide clear information about the progress of the case.
The police announcement of 11 arrests is an important development, but it does not by itself establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident or resolve allegations about possible sponsors.
For Sowore and his supporters, the demand is for an investigation that reaches everyone against whom credible evidence exists.
For the authorities, the responsibility is to demonstrate that the investigation is impartial, evidence-led and free from political interference.
Until the relevant claims are independently established, the identities and responsibilities of all those involved remain matters for investigation and, where necessary, determination by the courts.
Source attribution: This report draws on statements by Omoyele Sowore, the Ekiti State Police Command and the Ekiti State Government, alongside reporting by Premium Times, TheCable and Punch Newspapers.
