Omoyele Sowore Rejects Ekiti Police’s ‘Altercation’ Explanation: ‘We Were Attacked, Not Kidnapped!’ — Accuses Political Thugs and DSS Operatives of Involvement

The political temperature in Ekiti State has taken another dramatic turn following an alleged violent confrontation involving African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti. But while the Ekiti State Police Command appears keen to settle the kidnapping controversy by describing the incident as an altercation, Sowore is insisting that the authorities are telling only a fraction of the story. According to him, he and his associates were subjected to an unprovoked attack allegedly involving political thugs linked to the Ekiti State Government, with assistance from Department of State Services (DSS) operatives. And just when the controversy appeared to have enough drama, allegations of stolen mobile phones, wristwatches and shoes have entered the picture. Apparently, this was not just a security incident; according to Sowore, even personal belongings became casualties.

Omoyele Sowore Says It Was an Attack, Not an Altercation

The controversy erupted on Friday, October 30, 2026, after Omoyele Sowore and members of his team reportedly encountered a group of individuals at a restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, shortly after his appearance on MIDAS FM 90.5. Initial reports on social media suggested that the activist had been kidnapped by armed men, prompting concerns about his whereabouts and safety.

However, the Ekiti State Police Command subsequently dismissed the kidnapping narrative, explaining that Sowore had been involved in an altercation with some individuals at the restaurant. Police spokesperson Sunday Abutu said officers responded to a distress call, rescued Sowore and took him to the Police Hospital, where he was receiving treatment for what the Command described as a minor injury. Commissioner of Police Falade Adegoroye Michael also ordered an investigation into the incident. The Guardian Nigeria+2

But Omoyele Sowore has strongly rejected the police description. He insists that there was no mutual disagreement or ordinary confrontation, alleging instead that armed political thugs launched an unprovoked attack against him and his associates. He has accused individuals allegedly connected to the Ekiti State Government House and DSS operatives of facilitating the assault. These are serious allegations, and they have not been independently established. Nevertheless, the disagreement over what actually happened raises an important question: should the public simply accept the official description of an incident when the alleged victims are presenting a substantially different account?

Omoyele Sowore Alleged Political Thuggery, Missing Phones, Watches and Shoes

Sowore’s latest allegations have added another dimension to the controversy. According to him, the attackers did not merely assault members of his team but also allegedly stole their mobile phones, wristwatches and shoes during the incident. He further claims that technology has enabled his team to track and locate some of the missing belongings, yet the police have allegedly failed to take meaningful action to recover them.

If these allegations are substantiated, the investigation would need to go beyond determining who participated in the physical confrontation. It would also need to establish whether theft occurred, identify the individuals responsible and determine what happened to the allegedly stolen property. After all, an investigation into an alleged violent attack should not become a competition over vocabulary while evidence and possible criminal offences remain unexamined.

There is also the question of accountability. Omoyele Sowore has accused DSS operatives of providing the alleged attackers with information about his team’s location. TheCable reported his earlier allegations that security operatives had been monitoring his movements and assisting those responsible for the assault. The publication also noted that the DSS had not issued an official response to those accusations at the time of its report. TheCable+1 The authorities must therefore address these claims with evidence rather than allowing speculation to become the substitute for an investigation.

Omoyele Sowore, Known for Filming Every Incident, Missed the One That Matters?

For someone widely known for documenting confrontations, recording political incidents and sharing videos of controversial encounters, an interesting question has emerged from the Ekiti incident: where is Sowore’s own footage of what allegedly happened? The activist has accused political thugs of attacking him and members of his team, while also alleging that CCTV cameras at the restaurant captured the incident. Yet, despite his reputation for filming events as they unfold, no independently verified video showing the actual attack has emerged in the material currently available. Instead, attention has shifted to CCTV recordings allegedly obtained by the police and DSS, with Sowore claiming that there are attempts to suppress the footage to protect those involved. These remain allegations requiring verification.

The situation presents an unusual twist. Sowore, who has frequently used video recordings as a tool for exposing alleged misconduct by public officials and security operatives, now appears to be relying on surveillance footage controlled by others to establish what happened to him and his team. If the restaurant’s CCTV cameras captured the confrontation, those recordings could provide crucial evidence about how the incident began, who participated and whether the police description of an altercation accurately reflects what occurred. But where are the recordings, and why have they not been made available for proper independent examination? Those are questions that deserve answers.

Ultimately, the burden is on the investigating authorities to establish the facts, preserve available evidence and recover the belongings reportedly stolen during the incident.Omoyele Sowore‘s allegations should not automatically be accepted as proven, just as the police’s initial explanation should not end public scrutiny. For a man who has built much of his activism around documenting events and demanding accountability, this particular incident presents an uncomfortable irony: the man who usually brings the camera to the controversy is now asking others to produce the footage.

Ekiti Needs Answers, Not a Vocabulary Competition

The Omoyele Sowore incident is becoming more than a disagreement over whether someone was kidnapped or involved in an altercation. It is now a test of public accountability, police credibility and the responsibility of security agencies to protect citizens regardless of their political affiliations. If Sowore’s allegations are true, those responsible must be identified and prosecuted. If any allegations are inaccurate, the investigation should establish that too. Nobody should be above scrutiny, whether wearing political party colours, police uniforms or DSS identification. And perhaps the most important question is this: in a democracy, should politicians and activists have to worry about their physical safety simply because they challenge those in power? OGM News NG will continue to follow the investigation, the alleged recovery of the stolen belongings and any further developments surrounding the CCTV evidence. Watch this space for more updates.