Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential aspirant Omoyele Sowore has alleged that a mobile phone stolen from a member of his team during an attack in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has been traced to the Governor's Lodge. Sowore made this disclosure in a social media post on Sunday. He demanded that the police and the Department of State Services immediately release CCTV footage from Tawakalitu Restaurant, where the attack reportedly occurred.
The attack occurred on Friday, shortly after Sowore attended an interview at MIDAS FM 90.5 in Ado-Ekiti. Sowore and members of his team were assaulted, an incident he described as an assassination attempt. He has accused individuals linked to the Ekiti State Government House and security operatives of involvement in the assault. The police have announced the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with the incident.
According to the police, the suspects were arrested at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10 pm on Friday, following a tip-off. Items reportedly recovered from them included two walkie-talkies, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, seven ATM cards, 13 mobile phones, eight international passports, and two suspected criminal charms. Sowore said the police announcement confirmed that the incident was a violent attack.
Sowore has insisted that the arrests would be inadequate unless those who allegedly organised, financed, and coordinated the attack were also apprehended. He specifically demanded the arrest of Adenijo Olusola, popularly known as Solar, whom eyewitnesses had identified as an alleged participant in the assault. Sowore accused Solar of coordinating the attack from the Ekiti State Government House alongside Governor Biodun Oyebanji's Chief Security Officer, CSP Ayodele Akinlua.
Eyewitnesses had also identified Omotuyi Temitope, also known as Tope Jinadu Small, as one of those behind the attack. Solar had previously faced murder charges in two separate cases linked to political violence in Ekiti State. In September 2014, he was among seven men prosecuted over the murder of former state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Chief Omolafe Aderiye.
Sowore has also alleged that DSS operatives trailed and harassed him and his team before the attack. The police initially described the incident as an altercation involving Sowore and some individuals at Tawakalitu Restaurant, saying the activist was injured and taken to hospital for treatment. Sowore rejected that account, insisting that he and his team were victims of a coordinated assault.
The allegations against Solar and Tope Jinadu Small have not been established by a court. However, SaharaReporters had earlier reported that eyewitnesses identified Solar and Tope Jinadu Small as alleged participants in the attack. Sowore's latest allegation comes amid growing controversy over the police investigation into the attack.
Key points
- Omoyele Sowore alleges a phone stolen from his team has been traced to the Ekiti Governor's Lodge.
- Sowore demands the release of CCTV footage from Tawakalitu Restaurant.
- Sowore accuses authorities of hiding evidence and inadequate arrests in the attack investigation.
