Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that a mobile phone stolen from a member of his team during Friday’s violent incident in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has been traced to the Governor’s Lodge, raising fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Sowore disclosed the development in a post on his social media handles, where he renewed his demand for the immediate release of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from Tawakalitu Restaurant, the location where the incident reportedly occurred.
He called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to make the surveillance footage available to the public, insisting that the recordings could provide crucial evidence to establish what transpired during the confrontation.
“The @PoliceNG and @OfficialDSSNG must immediately release the CCTV footage from Tawakalitu Restaurant to the public. You cannot bury the evidence,” Sowore declared in his post.
The latest allegation comes amid growing controversy over the incident, which occurred on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, shortly after Sowore and members of his team had participated in political engagements in the state capital.
Sowore had described the incident as a brutal attack by armed men, alleging that members of his team sustained injuries and that the attackers received assistance from individuals connected to the state government and security operatives. These allegations have heightened calls for an independent investigation into the incident.
However, the Ekiti State Police Command initially characterised the incident as an altercation between Sowore and some individuals at the restaurant, stating that officers responded after receiving an alert and that the AAC presidential candidate received medical attention.
In a subsequent development, the police announced the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with the incident. According to the command, items recovered during the operation included 13 mobile phones, two walkie-talkies, seven ATM cards, two vehicle keys, eight international passports and other materials. The police said investigations were continuing to determine the suspects’ individual roles and identify others who might have been involved.
The reported tracing of one of the stolen phones to the Governor’s Lodge, as claimed by Sowore, introduces a new dimension to the unfolding controversy. However, the specific claim that the device was traced to the lodge has not been independently established in the available reporting, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged location of the phone remain unclear.
The demand for the restaurant’s CCTV footage has consequently become a central issue in the dispute over what happened in Ado-Ekiti. Releasing and independently examining relevant recordings could help investigators establish the sequence of events, identify those present and determine whether the accounts offered by the parties involved are supported by the available evidence.
For Chronicles Reporters, the central questions requiring answers include how the stolen phone was allegedly traced, who was in possession of it when its location was established, whether the device has been recovered, and whether the relevant surveillance recordings have been secured and preserved by the authorities.
As investigations continue, the police and other relevant security agencies are expected to provide clear information about the recovered items and the progress of their inquiries. The Ekiti State Government and relevant security authorities should also have an opportunity to respond to the specific allegations.
The circumstances surrounding the incident, the reported theft of personal belongings and Sowore’s latest claim underscore the importance of a transparent and impartial investigation. The public release of relevant evidence, where legally permissible and without compromising the investigation, could help resolve conflicting accounts and strengthen public confidence in the process.