Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore has called for an independent investigation into the attack on him and his associates in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. In a statement on November 4, Sowore alleged that the Ekiti State Police Command was protecting individuals who organised and carried out the assault. He demanded the suspension or removal of the state Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, pending a review of the command's handling of the case.
The attack occurred on October 30 at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti. Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, claimed that armed men subjected his group to a coordinated attack. The Ekiti State Government denied involvement in the incident, rejecting Sowore's allegations and asking the police to investigate and bring those responsible to justice. The police arrested 11 suspects in connection with the attack and recovered various items, including international passports, mobile phones, and ATM cards.
Sowore questioned whether the arrest of the 11 suspects addressed the circumstances surrounding the attack, alleging that individuals his team had identified as central to the incident remained outside the investigation. He named 12 individuals and officials whose conduct, associations, or knowledge of events he wants investigators to examine. These include Governor Biodun Oyebanji, his Chief Security Officer, Ayodele Akinlua, and the police commissioner. Sowore alleged that Akinlua had warned him hours before the incident that his safety could not be guaranteed if he continued his political activities in the state.
Sowore also repeated his allegation that a phone stolen from a member of his team had been traced to the Ekiti State Governor's Lodge. He sought forensic examination of the available electronic evidence to establish what happened and identify those involved. The SaharaReporters publisher requested an inquiry into the Ekiti State Director of the State Security Service (SSS) and relevant operatives over his allegation that security personnel assisted the attackers. He named Adenijo Sola, popularly known as Solar, and Omotuyi Temitope, also known as Tope Jinadu Small, as individuals allegedly involved in the assault.
The list of individuals Sowore wants investigated also includes Asefon Sunday Dayo, a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students and an adviser to President Bola Tinubu. Sowore alleged that Dayo's associations with some of those identified could provide information about the planning of the attack. He also sought the questioning of Olayinka Oyebode, the governor's Chief Press Secretary, and Makinde Araoye, an organiser of the Ikogosi Marathon, concerning the circumstances surrounding his visit and information they might have held about threats to his safety.
The police initially described the incident as an altercation and said officers rescued Sowore and the other victims. Sowore disputed both descriptions, maintaining that armed men subjected his group to a coordinated attack. The disagreement over the investigation prompted a demonstration at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja on November 3. Sowore and his supporters demanded an independent inquiry and the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the assault, including anyone who sponsored or coordinated it.
Sowore wants the Inspector-General of Police to appoint a separate investigative team to recover missing devices, preserve communication records, and secure the original recordings from the restaurant's surveillance system. He alleged that police officers and SSS operatives removed CCTV equipment from the premises and that recordings were subsequently suppressed or erased. The authorities have not commented on Sowore's allegations of a police cover-up.
Key points
- Omoyele Sowore demands an independent investigation into the attack on him and his associates in Ado-Ekiti.
- Sowore alleges that the Ekiti State Police Command is protecting individuals who organised and carried out the assault.
- The police have arrested 11 suspects in connection with the attack and recovered various items.
