Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the Ekiti State Police Command following the arrest of 11 suspects over the attack on him and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti on Friday.
Politics Nigeria reports that the police announced on Saturday that the suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abutu Sunday, the command said the arrests were made at about 10pm on Friday, October 30, following a credible tip-off.
The police 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 from them included two walkie-talkies, 13 mobile phones, seven ATM cards, eight international passports, a flash drive, a 5G MTN Wi-Fi device, two vehicle keys and substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado.
Other recovered items included two Indian hemp crushers, a pack of Rizla, identity cards, three complimentary cards, two suspected criminal charms, a gas lighter and N250.
The command said the suspects were in custody while investigations continued to establish their individual roles, determine their possible connections with the attack and identify other persons involved.
It added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Falade Adegoroye Michael, had assured the public that everyone found culpable would be brought to justice, irrespective of political affiliation.
However, reacting to the development in a post on his social media handles, Sowore described the arrests as an admission that the incident was not an ordinary altercation, as the police initially claimed.
He maintained that the attack was a coordinated attempt to assassinate him and members of his team, alleging that the perpetrators were government-sponsored political thugs.
Sowore, however, questioned why the police had arrested only the suspects allegedly involved in the attack without identifying those who planned and coordinated it.
“Arresting 11 suspects is not enough if those who planned, financed, coordinated and facilitated the attack remain untouched,” he said.
He specifically demanded an investigation into the alleged roles of Sola Adenijo, popularly known as Solar, and the Chief Security Officer to the Ekiti State Governor, CSP Ayodele Akinlua.
The activist also alleged that some of the individuals involved were associated with the City Boys group and called for investigations into their alleged connections with officials of the Ekiti State Government.
He further demanded that the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) preserve and release CCTV footage of the incident to enable Nigerians identify those involved.
Sowore also questioned the police’s initial description of the incident as an altercation, despite reports that members of his team sustained injuries.
“What changed between that misleading statement and today’s announcement of 11 arrests?” he asked.
He called for an independent and transparent investigation, insisting that the authorities must prosecute everyone implicated by the evidence, including the alleged sponsors and masterminds.
“We will not accept a cover-up disguised as an investigation. We will not accept the arrest of foot soldiers while the masterminds walk free,” Sowore said.
Politics Nigeria reports that the attack occurred at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, where Sowore and members of his team were reportedly assaulted ahead of the Ikogosi Marathon.
The police said all the victims, including Sowore, had received medical attention and were treated and discharged from the hospital.
