The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has challenged the Ekiti State Police Command’s account of the incident in which he and members of his team sustained injuries in Ado-Ekiti.
Sowore insisted that they were victims of a violent attack and not participants in an altercation, as described by the police.
The activist was reportedly injured during an incident at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti on Friday and subsequently taken to the Police Hospital in the state capital for medical attention.
The development followed reports circulating on social media alleging that armed men had kidnapped Sowore, leaving his whereabouts unknown.
However, the Ekiti State Police Command dismissed the kidnapping claims, confirming that its operatives had intervened following a distress report and rescued the AAC presidential candidate.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, said preliminary information indicated that Sowore had an altercation with some individuals at a restaurant in the state capital.
According to the police, Sowore sustained a minor injury during the incident and was receiving treatment at the Police Hospital in Ado-Ekiti.
Abutu also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, had ordered a discreet investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those involved and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.
However, reacting to the police statement, Sowore accused the command of downplaying the severity of the incident by describing it as an altercation.
In a post on his X handle, the activist maintained that he and his associates were attacked, adding that the police commissioner had personally witnessed the injuries sustained by those involved.
“There was no altercation! We were attacked!” he declared.
Sowore further alleged that despite the commissioner’s visit to the scene and his observation of the injuries, the police command issued a statement describing the incident as minor.
He also accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of providing the attackers with their exact location, allegedly enabling the assault.
The police, however, maintained that Sowore was not kidnapped and urged members of the public to disregard reports suggesting otherwise.
The command called for calm and warned against circulating unverified information capable of creating panic and tension.
Meanwhile, investigations have been ordered to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible.
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