By Oxford Reporters
Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has reportedly been abducted by armed men in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, following an alleged attack on him and members of his campaign team at a restaurant.
The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, with concerns mounting over the whereabouts of the activist and other members of his team.
The development came to public attention through posts attributed to Sowore’s verified official Facebook account, in which he raised an alarm over an attack on his team in Ado-Ekiti.
In one of the posts, Sowore reportedly wrote: “Thugs just attacked us inside a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti.”
In a subsequent update, another message attributed to him stated: “Armed thugs kidnap Sowore. His current location is unknown.”
The messages have generated concerns among supporters, human rights advocates and members of the public, particularly over the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack and the safety of the activist and his campaign team.
Amnesty International has also expressed deep concern over the reported incident, describing it as an attack and abduction that requires immediate attention from the relevant authorities.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 30, the international human rights organisation said it was deeply concerned by the attack and abduction of Sowore and his campaign team in Ekiti State.
The organisation called for an immediate investigation into the incident and urged the authorities to establish Sowore’s whereabouts without delay.
Amnesty International’s intervention has further heightened calls for clarification from security agencies and other relevant authorities regarding the reported incident.
Similarly, human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has condemned the reported attack on Sowore, describing it as an act of violence and political intimidation.
Adeyanju, in a statement on Friday, said he was informed about the incident by one of Sowore’s aides, expressing particular concern over reports that the police officer attached to the AAC presidential candidate was disarmed during the attack.
He said: “I have just been informed by one of the aides to Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), of his violent attack in Ekiti State.
“I am concerned by reports that the police officer attached to him was disarmed during the incident.
“I strongly condemn this brazen act of violence and political intimidation. There is absolutely no place for such lawlessness in a democracy.”
Adeyanju called on relevant security agencies to immediately investigate the incident, ensure Sowore’s safety and bring those responsible to justice.
He stressed the need for urgent intervention to establish what happened and guarantee the safety of the activist and members of his campaign team.
However, as of the time of filing this report, there had been no official confirmation from Sowore’s campaign council establishing the circumstances of the alleged abduction. Neither had an official statement from the police confirming the incident or providing details about any investigation been made available.
The absence of official confirmation has left important questions unanswered, including the identities of those allegedly responsible, the circumstances surrounding the reported attack and the current location of Sowore and his campaign team.
Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, has remained a prominent figure in Nigeria’s political and human rights advocacy landscape. His campaign activities in Ekiti State come amid preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The latest development has therefore raised concerns about the safety of political campaigners and the need to guarantee the freedom of political participation across the country.
As calls for urgent intervention intensify, attention is now focused on the Ekiti State Police Command and other relevant security agencies to establish the facts surrounding the incident, determine Sowore’s whereabouts and ensure the safety of everyone reportedly affected.
Until official confirmation emerges, the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction remain unclear.
