Amnesty International, Take It Back Movement Raise Alarm Over Sowore’s Alleged Abduction In Ekiti, Demand Answers From Oyebanji, Security Agencies

By Passman Akpos

Human rights organisation Amnesty International and the Take It Back Movement have raised serious concerns over the reported attack and alleged abduction of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, demanding an immediate investigation and urgent intervention by government authorities and security agencies.

The incident, reportedly occurring at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, has generated widespread concern following reports that armed men stormed a restaurant where Sowore and members of his campaign team were gathered and allegedly took the activist away.

As of the time of filing this report, Sowore’s whereabouts had not been independently established.

In a statement issued on Friday, Amnesty International expressed deep concern over the incident, describing the reported attack and abduction as a matter requiring immediate attention from the relevant authorities.

The organisation called for urgent action to establish Sowore’s whereabouts and guarantee the safety of everyone affected by the incident.

“Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the attack and abduction of activist Omoyele Sowore and his campaign team in Ekiti State at approximately 1:00 p.m. today, 30th October 2026.

“Right now, their whereabouts are unknown. This incident must be immediately investigated and Sowore’s whereabouts established,” the organisation stated.

The intervention by Amnesty International comes amid growing concerns about the safety of political activists, opposition figures and individuals exercising their constitutional rights to political participation and freedom of expression.

TAKE IT BACK MOVEMENT DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM OYEBANJI, SECURITY AGENCIES

Similarly, the Take It Back Movement condemned the reported abduction and demanded immediate intervention from the Ekiti State Government, Governor Biodun Oyebanji and security agencies.

In a statement titled “Where Is Omoyele Sowore?”, the movement described the incident as requiring urgent attention and insisted that the state government and relevant security institutions must account for the activist’s safety.

“The Ekiti State Government, @biodunaoyebanji and all security agencies must account for his safety. NOTHING MUST HAPPEN TO SOWORE!” the movement declared.

The organisation’s position places responsibility on the Ekiti State authorities and security agencies to urgently establish what happened, determine Sowore’s whereabouts and ensure that he is not subjected to further violence.

BAUCHI CHAPTER CONDEMNS ATTACK, DEMANDS INTERVENTION BY IGP, DSS DIRECTOR-GENERAL

The Bauchi State chapter of the Take It Back Movement has also condemned what it described as the violent abduction of Sowore, identifying him as the movement’s National Convener and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress.

In a statement signed by its coordinator, Nazif Bashi, on Friday, the chapter described the incident as an assault on democratic freedoms and a serious threat to political participation.

“This brazen act of violence against a prominent political figure and champion of the Nigerian people represents a complete breakdown of law and order and an outright assault on democratic freedoms,” the statement said.

The chapter warned against what it described as the use of violence and intimidation against political dissenters and civic leaders.

“We will not stand by while state-sponsored or non-state actors unleash terror on political dissenters and civic leaders.

“The safety, security, and fundamental human rights of Omoyele Sowore are non-negotiable,” it added.

The group subsequently called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service and other relevant security institutions to immediately deploy necessary resources to identify the perpetrators and secure Sowore’s safe release.

It also demanded a full-scale investigation to identify, arrest and prosecute everyone involved in the incident, including anyone who may have sponsored or facilitated the alleged attack.

The chapter further warned that security agencies must fulfil their constitutional responsibility to protect citizens rather than remain passive when violence is directed against opposition figures.

SOWORE’S MEDIA TEAM ACCUSES DSS OF LEAKING HIS LOCATION

In a separate development, Sowore’s media team has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of allegedly providing armed attackers with the activist’s exact location before the reported assault in Ado-Ekiti.

The allegation was contained in a statement published on Sowore’s official X account.

According to the media team, Sowore and members of his entourage were attacked by armed individuals while they were at a restaurant in the Ekiti State capital.

The team alleged that the attackers assaulted members of the entourage and damaged campaign vehicles belonging to the activist and his team.

It specifically accused the DSS of disclosing their location to the alleged attackers, claiming that the information enabled the assailants to carry out the operation.

The statement read:

“We have been brutally attacked and injured by well armed government-sponsored thugs in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. The @OfficialDSSNG provided these attackers with our exact location, enabling them to carry out this vicious assault. We won’t back down! We have a country to liberate!”

However, the allegation that the DSS disclosed Sowore’s location, as well as the claim that the attackers were government-sponsored, has not been independently established.

No independently verified evidence identifying the alleged attackers or establishing their sponsors was immediately available.

The DSS and the relevant authorities will need to respond to the allegation and clarify whether the agency had any involvement or knowledge of the incident.

HOW THE ATTACK REPORTEDLY HAPPENED

Earlier reports by SaharaReporters indicated that the incident occurred at Tawakal’tu Restaurants and Catering Services in Ado-Ekiti.

Eyewitnesses reportedly told the publication that armed men stormed the establishment and forcibly took Sowore away.

The witnesses identified the alleged attackers as political thugs purportedly linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the alleged political affiliation of the attackers has not been independently verified.

Videos and photographs obtained by SaharaReporters reportedly showed the aftermath of the incident, including damaged tables and chairs, vandalised sections of the restaurant and damaged vehicles outside the premises.

One vehicle reportedly sustained damage, while another had a flat tyre.

Following the incident, posts published on Sowore’s verified Facebook and X accounts announced his alleged abduction and raised concerns about his whereabouts.

“Armed thugs kidnap Sowore. His current location is unknown!” one of the posts read.

The subsequent statement from his media team further alleged that members of the campaign entourage sustained injuries during the attack.

SOWORE WAS IN EKITI FOR 2027 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES

Sowore’s presence in Ekiti State was reportedly connected to activities surrounding his presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.

On Thursday, October 29, his defence counsel informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that the activist was in Ekiti for campaign-related engagements.

The court subsequently adjourned his ongoing cyberbullying trial until November 3, 2026.

Sowore, a journalist, publisher, human rights activist and politician, is the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress.

He has consistently criticised successive Nigerian governments and campaigned on issues of governance, corruption, human rights and political accountability.

QUESTIONS FOR OYEBANJI, POLICE AND THE DSS

The reported incident has raised several questions that require urgent answers from the Ekiti State Government and security institutions.

Where is Omoyele Sowore?

Have the police established the identities of the armed individuals who allegedly stormed the restaurant?

What steps have the Ekiti State Police Command and other security agencies taken to locate the activist and members of his entourage?

Has the DSS received any information concerning the alleged attack, particularly following the accusation that the agency disclosed Sowore’s location?

Who is responsible for the reported destruction of property and damage to campaign vehicles?

Will the authorities investigate the allegation of political sponsorship and prosecute anyone found responsible?

These questions demand credible answers, not political denials or silence.

Amnesty International’s intervention, alongside demands from the Take It Back Movement, has further intensified calls for the authorities to establish Sowore’s whereabouts and guarantee his safety.

The incident also raises broader concerns about the protection of opposition politicians, journalists, activists and other Nigerians participating in the country’s democratic process.

As Nigerians await an official account of what happened in Ado-Ekiti, the immediate priority remains establishing Sowore’s whereabouts, ensuring the safety of his team and conducting a transparent investigation into the reported attack.

For now, the central question remains: WHERE IS OMoyele SOWORE, AND WHO WILL ACCOUNT FOR HIS SAFETY?