The Ekiti State Police Command and presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, have disagreed over the circumstances surrounding a Friday attack on his entourage in Ado-Ekiti.

In a statement, the police said Sowore was not kidnapped as claimed in some social media posts, but was involved in an “altercation” at a restaurant.

In the statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sunday Abutu, the command said its attention had been drawn to messages circulating on social media alleging that Sowore was kidnapped by armed thugs in Ado-Ekiti, with his whereabouts unknown.

“The command wishes to categorically clarify that Mr. Sowore was not kidnapped. Rather, preliminary information indicates that he had an altercation with some individuals at a restaurant around Dalimore area, Ado-Ekiti, following which the Police were immediately alerted,” the statement reads in part.

The command said operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene and rescued him, adding that he sustained a “minor” injury and was receiving medical attention at the Police Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.

The statement said the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, CP Adegoroye Michael Falade, has ordered a discreet investigation into the incident to establish the full circumstances surrounding the altercation, identify all individuals involved and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.

The command urged members of the public to disregard the alleged kidnapping narrative and refrain from circulating unverified information capable of creating panic.

Sowore responds

In separate posts on X, Sowore vehemently criticised the police account of the incident.

He described the police statement as despicable and a trivialisation of what he called a coordinated, violent attack.

The activist-cum-politician shared a video supposedly showing several members of his team being treated for injuries sustained from the “brutal attack”.

He captioned the video, “The Commissioner of @PoliceNG in Ekiti State, CP Falade Adegoroye Michael, personally visited the scene of the brutal attack against us in Ado-Ekiti today.

“He saw firsthand the extensive injuries we sustained, yet he has the audacity to issue a despicable statement describing a coordinated, violent attack as a mere ‘altercation’.

“THERE WAS NO ALTERCATION! WE WERE ATTACKED! The Commissioner saw the injuries, witnessed the aftermath of the violence, and was fully aware of the seriousness of what happened. Yet his Command has chosen to trivialize the attack, even describing the injuries as ‘minor’. No wonder allegations have emerged that the Commissioner of Police himself was involved. This is despicable! Video shows the CP leaving the emergency room after observing the extensive injuries.”

In another post, Sowore alleged that the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) had seized the CCTV footage from the restaurant where the incident occurred.

He warned against any attempt to sweep the incident under the carpet.

The AAC presidential candidate said, “The Ekiti State Police Command and the @OfficialDSSNG have seized the CCTV footage from the owner of the restaurant where we were brutally attacked in Ado-Ekiti.

“The attackers were captured on camera, and we’ve now learnt that the police and DSS are attempting to suppress this crucial evidence to shield those responsible. But we already know them!” he said. (The Sun)