Eleven arrested after attack on Nigerian presidential hopeful Sowore in Ekiti
Nigerian police have arrested 11 suspects after an attack on presidential hopeful Omoyele Sowore at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, on Friday afternoon, 30 October 2026.
Sowore, a presidential aspirant for the African Action Congress (AAC) ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections, was holding a meeting at the Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area after a radio interview at MIDAS FM 90.5. His media team first raised the alarm online, saying armed men had taken him and his location was unknown. Police disputed that account, saying Sowore had been caught in an altercation and officers rescued him after a distress call.
The Ekiti State Police Command said its Rapid Response Squad arrested the suspects at about 10pm on Friday at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti, acting on a tip-off. Police named them as Joseph Tayo, Olatunji Abayomi, Isaac Amba, Kehinde Ajigbana, Tosin David, Solomon Iyanu, Ogunsola Ayomide, Ojo Ayodeji, Kayode Dada, Segun Olatunji and Salami Emmanuel. Officers recovered two walkie-talkies, seven ATM cards, 13 mobile phones and substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado.
Sowore rejected the police version of events. In a post on X on Saturday, he called the incident a coordinated assault rather than an ordinary disagreement, and demanded that those behind it be identified and brought to justice. He alleged the attackers were government-sponsored, and claimed the Department of State Services had trailed his team since Thursday and supported them. He also urged police to preserve and release CCTV footage from the scene.
Why it matters
Sowore is one of Nigeria’s best-known activists and a repeat presidential candidate, attacked while campaigning ahead of the 2027 elections. Violence against candidates and campaigners can scare people away from politics, so how the police handle this case will be watched closely. The two sides tell very different stories, leaving the public unsure who to believe.
What happens next
Police said the suspects are in custody while investigations continue into each person’s role and any links to the attack. The police commissioner, Falade Adegoroye Michael, has promised that anyone found culpable will face justice. Watch for charges, the CCTV footage Sowore has asked for, and any official response to his claims about state officials and the DSS.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://thesun.ng/11-suspects-arrested-over-attack-on-sowore-in-ekiti/ (The Sun Nigeria, 31 October 2026)
- https://thenewsguru.ng/news/police-nab-11-suspects-over-sowores-attack-in-ado-ekiti/ (The News Guru, 31 October 2026)
- https://yelatimes.com/2026/10/31/police-arrest-11-suspects-over-attack-on-sowore-in-ekiti/ (Yela Times, 31 October 2026)
