A heated argument over President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s economic hardship preceded the physical confrontation between activist Omoyele Sowore and some Tinubu supporters at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, a source familiar with the incident has told THE WHISTLER.
The source said Sowore questioned why the supporters continued to back the Tinubu administration despite widespread hunger and economic hardship. The exchange of words reportedly escalated into a fight involving members of both groups.
The incident occurred on Friday, October 30, at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, shortly after Sowore appeared on MIDAS FM 90.5, where he criticised the Tinubu administration.
According to the source, members of the PBAT/APC supporters’ group, some wearing Tinubu-branded shirts and caps, entered the restaurant while Sowore and members of his entourage were having a meal.
“Some of the PBAT Door-to-Door members were wearing Tinubu campaign clothes and caps when they entered the restaurant where Sowore was eating. Sowore started confronting them, asking why they were still supporting Tinubu despite the hunger in the land. That was how they started exchanging words before the situation escalated into a fight,” the source told THE WHISTLER.
The confrontation reportedly left Sowore and other people injured. The incident prompted conflicting accounts from the two camps. Sowore’s camp initially described it as an attempted kidnapping and later characterised it as an attack. The source’s account suggests that a political argument preceded the physical confrontation.
The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 people in connection with the incident. In a statement issued on Saturday, the police said operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, acting on intelligence, raided the suspects’ hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10pm on Friday.
The suspects were identified 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.
Police said items recovered during the operation included two walkie-talkies, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, two cannabis crushers, a pack of Rizla, seven ATM cards, 13 mobile phones, two vehicle keys and a flash drive.
Other items listed by the police included a 5G MTN Wi-Fi device, identity cards, eight international passports, three complimentary cards, two charms suspected to be criminal charms, a gas lighter and ₦250.
The command said the suspects remained in custody while investigations continued to establish their individual roles, determine any connection to the confrontation and identify others who may have been involved.
Police also said all victims, including Sowore, received medical attention and were treated and discharged from hospital. The Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, said anyone found culpable would be brought to justice, regardless of political affiliation.
The police have not publicly established who initiated the violence or provided a detailed account of how the confrontation unfolded.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, is a prominent critic of Tinubu and has frequently challenged the administration over its economic policies, governance and handling of national affairs.
