Police Arrest 11 in Connection with Attack on Presidential Aspirant Omoyele Sowore
By Ayobami Okerinde
The Ekiti State Police Command has apprehended eleven suspects linked to the assault on Omoyele Sowore, a presidential aspirant for the African Action Congress (AAC), along with members of his entourage. The incident occurred at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, the capital city of Ekiti State.
Details of the Arrest
In a statement released on Saturday, the Public Relations Officer of the police command, Abutu Sunday, disclosed that the Rapid Response Squad officers identified and detained the suspects at their hideouts in the Atikankan area around 10 PM on Friday, based on reliable intelligence.
The statement noted, “The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested eleven (11) suspects in relation to the alleged attack on Mr. Omoyele Sowore, an African Action Congress (AAC) presidential aspirant, and others at Tawakalitu Restaurant, located in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti.”
Identities of the Suspects
The individuals taken into custody are identified as Joseph Tayo (32 years), Olatunji Abayomi (41 years), Isaac Amba (22 years), Kehinde Ajigbana (18 years), Tosin David (18 years), Solomon Iyanu (18 years), Ogunsola Ayomide (21 years), Ojo Ayodeji (22 years), Kayode Dada (32 years), Segun Olatunji (28 years), and Salami Emmanuel (53 years).
Items Recovered
Authorities recovered various items during the arrests, including two walkie-talkies, suspected illegal substances, two Indian hemp grinders, a pack of Rizla rolling paper, seven ATM cards, thirteen mobile phones, two vehicle keys, a flash drive, a 5G MTN Wi-Fi device, identity cards, eight international passports, three complimentary cards, two suspected charms, a gas lighter, and cash amounting to ₦250.
Ongoing Investigations
The police have stated that investigations are underway to determine the specific roles of the suspects and any potential connections they may have had with the attack. Commissioner of Police Falade Michael has assured the public that all individuals found responsible will face legal consequences.
He emphasized, “The command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all those culpable are brought to justice.”
Sowore’s Response
In light of the arrests, Omoyele Sowore has called for the identification and prosecution of those believed to be the masterminds and financiers behind the attack. He characterized the incident as a calculated assault rather than a simple altercation.
In a post on X, Sowore described the arrests as an acknowledgement that the assault was indeed violent. He alleged connections between some assailants and a local group known as the City Boys, calling for a thorough investigation into possible ties to state government officials.
Call for Action
Sowore urged both the Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, and the Department of State Services to secure and publicly release CCTV footage from the venue to assist in identifying all those involved in the attack.
“Arresting 11 suspects is not sufficient if those who coordinated, financed, and facilitated the attack remain at large,” he stated, also seeking clarification from police regarding their initial characterization of the event as an altercation.
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