Ekiti Police Arrest 11 Over Attack On Sowore, Recover Walkie-Talkies, Charms, 13 Phones
…Eight International Passports, Seven ATM Cards, Suspected Hard Drugs, Other Items Seized
…Police Confirm AAC Presidential Aspirant, Other Victims Discharged From Hospital
Daud Olatunji
The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects over the alleged attack on the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his entourage at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The arrests came hours after the October 30 incident at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of the town, which sparked controversy over the circumstances surrounding the attack and the police’s initial description of the incident as an altercation.
The suspects were reportedly arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad following a tip-off that led to a raid on their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10pm on Friday.
The police disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday.
The statement identified the suspects as 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.
Other items reportedly seized were 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 N250.
The command said the suspects had been taken into custody, adding that investigations were ongoing to establish their individual roles, determine their possible connections with the attack and identify other persons who might have participated in the incident.
The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, Falade Michael, as assuring residents that the command would ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.
The commissioner said the command would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and prosecute those responsible.
The police also confirmed that Sowore and other victims had received medical attention and were discharged from the hospital.
“Meanwhile, the command wishes to reconfirm that all the victims, including Mr Sowore, have received medical attention, been treated and discharged from the hospital,” the statement added.
The arrests followed conflicting accounts by Sowore and the police over the incident, which occurred during the AAC presidential aspirant’s visit to the state.
While the police initially described the incident as an altercation between Sowore and some individuals at the restaurant, saying he sustained injuries and was taken to hospital, the activist rejected the account.
Sowore insisted that he and members of his entourage were attacked by armed men in what he described as a coordinated assault, accusing the police of attempting to downplay the gravity of the incident.
He also alleged that the attackers beat him and threatened to kill him, raising concerns about the safety of members of his entourage.
The controversy further intensified after an EndSARS activist alleged that the Chief Security Officer to the Ekiti State Governor had contacted and warned Sowore, hours before the incident, that his safety could not be guaranteed.
