The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects in connection with the attack on African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and other persons at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of the state capital at about 10pm on Friday, October 30, following a tip-off.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday.
The suspects: 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 during the operation 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 the suspects were in custody, while investigations were ongoing to establish their individual roles in the incident, determine possible links to the attack and identify other persons involved.
The Commissioner of Police, Falade Michael, assured residents that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
He said the command would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible were held accountable.
The police also confirmed that Sowore and the other victims had received medical attention and were discharged from hospital.
The arrests followed an incident at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, which sparked a disagreement between Sowore and the police over what happened.
The command had initially described the incident as an altercation between Sowore and some individuals at the restaurant, saying the activist sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, Sowore has rejected the police account, insisting that he and members of his entourage were attacked by armed men.
“There was no altercation! We were attacked!” he declared, accusing the police of attempting to play down the incident.
He later alleged that the attackers beat him and threatened to kill him, raising concerns about the safety of members of his entourage.
The African Action Congress also condemned the incident and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The latest arrests mark a development in the police investigation, although the command said further inquiries were necessary to establish the roles of those arrested and identify any other persons involved.
