Protesters on Tuesday besieged the Force Headquarters in Abuja, calling on the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute everyone allegedly involved in the attack on human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his entourage in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The demonstration was ongoing as journalists and protesters awaited an address from the Inspector-General of Police, who was expected to respond to the demands of the demonstrators.
The protesters, drawn from Sowore’s supporters and the Take It Back Movement, urged the police chief to ensure that all individuals connected to the October 30 incident are identified and brought to justice.
Beyond demanding the prosecution of those allegedly involved in the physical assault, the demonstrators called for an independent and comprehensive investigation capable of uncovering the alleged masterminds, financiers and coordinators of the attack. They maintained that the investigation would be incomplete if it focused exclusively on those who allegedly executed the assault.
Carrying their protest to the police headquarters, the demonstrators chanted solidarity songs and demanded justice over the reported assault on Sowore and members of his team at Tawakalitu Restaurant, located in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti.
The protest comes amid mounting criticism of the Ekiti State Police Command’s initial handling of the incident. The command had earlier characterised the confrontation as an altercation between Sowore and some individuals at the restaurant, a description subsequently disputed by the activist.
Sowore dismissed the police account, maintaining that he and his associates were attacked by armed men in what he described as a coordinated operation.
In its response to the incident, the police announced the arrest of 11 suspects allegedly connected to the violence. The individuals were reportedly apprehended at different hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti.
Items said to have been recovered during the operation included walkie-talkies, mobile phones, ATM cards and international passports.
Despite the arrests, Sowore has continued to question the scope of the police investigation, arguing that apprehending the alleged attackers does not address the possibility of a wider network behind the incident. He has therefore called on security agencies to investigate and prosecute those suspected of organising and financing the operation.
The activist has also urged the authorities to make available CCTV recordings from the restaurant, arguing that the footage could provide crucial evidence and help clarify the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
In another allegation, Sowore claimed that a mobile phone reportedly taken from one of his associates during the incident was later traced to the Ekiti State Governor’s Lodge. The claim, however, has not been independently verified.
Similarly, the African Action Congress has criticised the response of security agencies, accusing them of failing to take appropriate action despite the alleged availability of evidence. The party has consequently renewed its demand for an independent investigation into the incident, including allegations of possible involvement by individuals connected to the attack.
Tuesday’s demonstration at the Force Headquarters represents a further escalation of the controversy surrounding the Ado-Ekiti incident, with protesters seeking assurances from the police leadership that the investigation will extend beyond the arrested suspects to cover anyone allegedly responsible for sponsoring, financing or coordinating the attack.
