Attack on Sowore's team in Ado-Ekiti: 11 arrested as Ekiti government denies any role

Police in Ekiti State have arrested 11 people over an attack on African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and members of his team at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti on Friday 30 October. The Ekiti State Government says it had nothing to do with the attack, while Sowore says those who planned and paid for it must also be found.

The attack happened on Friday 30 October at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where Sowore and others were assaulted and later treated in hospital, Punch and the Nigerian Tribune reported. The police at first described the incident as an 'altercation'. Sowore rejected that account, saying his team was attacked by armed men who threatened to kill him.

In a statement on Saturday 31 October, police spokesperson SP Abutu Sunday said Rapid Response Squad officers arrested 11 suspects, aged between 18 and 53, at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10pm on Friday, following a tip-off. Items recovered included two walkie-talkies, 13 mobile phones, eight international passports, seven ATM cards and substances suspected to be cannabis, according to The Nation and Vanguard. The police said investigations were continuing to establish each suspect's role and identify anyone else involved, and that all the victims, including Sowore, had been treated and discharged. Commissioner of Police Falade Adegoroye Michael said anyone found culpable would be brought to justice, 'irrespective of political affiliations'.

The Ekiti State Government, through the governor's Chief Press Secretary Yinka Oyebode, said it 'dissociates itself totally from the incident' and called on the police to investigate thoroughly and prosecute those responsible. It described suggestions that it would harass a presidential candidate as 'absurd', pointing to what it called the peaceful conduct of the state's recent governorship election, the Tribune and The Nation reported.

Reacting to the arrests on X, Sowore said arresting 11 people was 'not enough if those who planned, financed, coordinated and facilitated the attack remain untouched'. He asked the police and the DSS to preserve and release CCTV footage from the restaurant, and alleged that some of the attackers were associated with the City Boys group and that state officials may have been linked, Vanguard reported. The police have not named any group or sponsor, and ST Office did not find a response from the group in trusted outlets at the time of writing.

Separately, the organisers of the Ikogosi Marathon said on Saturday that Sowore, who had registered for the 17.5km race, would not be allowed to take part, citing 'documented conduct and security considerations' and saying the decision had nothing to do with his politics. Sowore has called for sanctions against the organisers and the state governor, Punch reported.

Pidgin: Police for Ekiti don arrest 11 people because of the attack on Sowore and im people for one restaurant for Ado-Ekiti on Friday. Ekiti government talk say dem no get hand for am. Sowore talk say make police find the people wey plan and pay for the attack too. Investigation still dey go on.

How this affects you: Nobody has been charged yet, and the police say the investigation is ongoing. As campaigns for the January 2027 elections pick up, anyone who sees violence at a political event should move to safety first, then report it to the nearest police division or the state police command, and keep any videos or photos as evidence. Treat claims about who was behind the attack as claims until the police or a court says otherwise.