Sowore Attacked in Ekiti: Police Deny Kidnap Claims, Order Investigation

The Ekiti State Police Command has denied reports that African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was kidnapped in Ado-Ekiti, saying preliminary findings indicate that he was involved in an altercation with some individuals at a restaurant.

However, Sowore has rejected the police account, insisting that he and members of his team were violently attacked by suspected political thugs following his media engagement in the state on Friday.

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In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abutu Sunday, the command said it received information about the incident at a restaurant around the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti and immediately deployed operatives to the scene.

According to the police, officers rescued Sowore after arriving at the location, although he sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Police Hospital in Ado-Ekiti for medical attention.

The command also dismissed social media reports suggesting that the AAC candidate had been abducted and his whereabouts were unknown.

The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Falade Adegoroye Michael, has ordered a discreet investigation to establish what happened, identify everyone involved and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.

The police urged residents to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic, adding that the command remained committed to protecting lives and property regardless of political affiliation.

Sowore accuses DSS, Ekiti Government House

Giving a different account, Sowore alleged that the attack was carried out by individuals who came from the Ekiti State Government House and received tracking and operational support from the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a post on his X account, the activist and presidential candidate claimed that DSS operatives had been following and harassing his team since their arrival in Ekiti on Thursday.

He further alleged that the manager of a restaurant where they had earlier eaten was threatened and warned against allowing his team to use the premises again.

Sowore said the attack occurred shortly after he completed an interview at MIDAS FM 90.5 in Ado-Ekiti. He also released photographs and video footage which he said showed the aftermath of the incident.

The AAC candidate specifically faulted the police for describing the incident as an altercation, arguing that the description did not reflect the violence he and his associates allegedly experienced.

He also claimed that the state Commissioner of Police personally visited the scene and witnessed the injuries sustained by members of his team.

Police investigation expected to establish facts

The conflicting accounts have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly the identities of those involved and the allegations against the DSS and individuals allegedly linked to the Ekiti Government House.

While the police have confirmed that Sowore sustained injuries and ordered an investigation, the allegations made against the DSS and the state government have not been independently established in the information available.

The outcome of the police investigation is expected to provide further clarity on what happened at the restaurant and whether any criminal offence was committed.

For now, Sowore maintains that he was the victim of a coordinated attack, while the police insist that preliminary information points to an altercation rather than a kidnapping.