SOWORE ATTACK: YRC DEMANDS ARREST OF PERPETRATORS, PROBE INTO ALLEGED DSS ROLE, FAULTS EKITI POLICE

The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the reported attack on African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The group also demanded an independent investigation into allegations that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) provided support to the individuals who attacked Sowore and members of his team.

The demand followed Friday’s incident at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, where Sowore and members of his entourage reportedly sustained injuries during a confrontation with a group of individuals.

Sowore alleged that armed men attacked his team shortly after he concluded a radio interview in the state capital. He further accused DSS operatives of tracking his movements and providing the attackers with his team’s location to facilitate the assault.

The activist also claimed that the attackers were connected to the Ekiti State Government House and accused security operatives of providing them with operational support. However, these allegations have not been independently established.

The Youth Rights Campaign expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the incident and questioned the handling of the matter by the Ekiti State Police Command.

The group faulted the police for initially describing the incident as an altercation and characterising Sowore’s injuries as minor, arguing that the official account did not adequately address the allegations raised by the victims.

The campaign also called for a thorough examination of the alleged involvement of security personnel, insisting that no individual or institution should be shielded from investigation where credible allegations of misconduct have been raised.

The controversy intensified after the African Action Congress accused the police of attempting to downplay the incident and demanded an independent inquiry into the alleged roles of the police, DSS and other individuals who may have been involved.

The party also questioned the handling of the restaurant’s CCTV footage, demanding that relevant recordings be secured and made available to investigators to help establish what happened.

The AAC alleged that phones, wristwatches and shoes belonging to members of Sowore’s team were stolen during the incident. It further linked the allegations to an earlier encounter in Rivers State, where it claimed a tracking device had been planted on Sowore’s vehicle.

The party described the incidents as possible indications of a coordinated attempt to target the activist and called for an investigation that would identify not only those who allegedly carried out the attack but also anyone who may have sponsored or facilitated it.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Police Command announced the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with the incident. According to the police, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad apprehended the suspects at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10 p.m. on Friday, October 30.

The police said several items were recovered during the operation, including 13 mobile phones, two walkie-talkies, seven ATM cards, two vehicle keys, a flash drive, eight international passports and other materials.

The command stated that the suspects remained in custody while investigations continued to establish their individual roles and identify other persons who might have been involved.

It also confirmed that Sowore and the other affected individuals had received medical attention, completed treatment and been discharged from the hospital.

However, the arrests have not ended questions surrounding the incident, particularly regarding the alleged involvement of security operatives and the identities of those accused of organising the confrontation.

The police have maintained that an investigation is underway, while Sowore and his political associates have continued to challenge the command’s initial description of the incident.

The Ekiti State Government has also denied involvement in the reported attack. In a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, the government disassociated itself from the incident and called on the police to identify those responsible and ensure that they face justice.

The allegations against the DSS and the Ekiti State Government remain unverified, and no publicly established evidence has confirmed that either institution organised or facilitated the attack.

The calls for an independent investigation have therefore placed renewed attention on the need for transparency, accountability and the protection of political actors, particularly during periods of heightened political activity.

The incident has also raised broader concerns about the safety of opposition politicians, the conduct of security agencies and the importance of ensuring that allegations of politically motivated violence are investigated without interference.

The Youth Rights Campaign’s demand adds to growing calls from civil society groups and political stakeholders for the authorities to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Street News Reporters will continue to monitor developments surrounding the incident, including the investigation into the 11 arrested suspects, the allegations of DSS involvement and calls for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the Ekiti State Police Command.