The video, released on November 1 and reported by Nigerian news outlets on November 2, shows several men during a violent confrontation. Some of them appear to be holding cutlasses and sticks, while another person dressed in a black suit is seen being dragged.
Sowore described the footage as a major breakthrough in efforts to identify those behind the October 30 attack. He also called for an independent investigation into the incident.
The development has increased pressure on the Ekiti State Police Command, especially after Sowore accused security officials of mishandling important CCTV recordings from the restaurant where the incident happened.
The police, however, have maintained that an investigation is underway.
How the Attack on Sowore Happened
The incident happened on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti.
Sowore and members of his team were reportedly at the restaurant shortly after he attended an interview at MIDAS FM 90.5 in the state capital.
According to Sowore, armed men attacked him and his team during the visit. He also claimed that some members of his team were injured and their belongings were taken.
The activist initially raised the alarm on social media, claiming that armed men had attacked and kidnapped him.
However, the Ekiti State Police Command later denied that he was kidnapped.
In a statement reported by Punch, the police said officers received information about an incident involving Sowore and some individuals at a restaurant.
The police said they moved to the location, rescued him and took him to the Police Hospital in Ado-Ekiti for treatment.
The command also confirmed that Sowore sustained minor injuries.
Police Commissioner Michael Falade ordered an investigation to establish what happened and identify those involved. Police +1
Sowore Releases Video Showing Faces of Alleged Attackers
On November 1, Sowore shared another video on his social media account, claiming that it showed the faces of people involved in the attack.
He described the development as a major breakthrough because the footage could help investigators identify those who took part in the incident.
The video reportedly shows men carrying cutlasses and sticks during a confrontation. It also shows a person in a black suit being dragged while other people stand nearby.
Sowore called for an independent body to investigate the people seen in the footage and establish their roles.
His position is that the video could provide important evidence and help prevent those responsible from escaping justice.
However, the appearance of people in a video does not automatically prove that they committed a crime. Their identities and actions must still be properly investigated.
The release of the footage has therefore placed more attention on the need for a transparent investigation. Premium Times Nigeria +1
Sowore Accuses Police and DSS of Erasing CCTV Footage
One of the biggest issues surrounding the incident is the alleged disappearance of CCTV recordings from Tawakalitu Restaurant.
Sowore claimed that police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), also known as the State Security Service (SSS), took possession of the restaurant's CCTV equipment after the attack.
According to him, the equipment was later returned to the restaurant without the original recordings.
He also claimed that the restaurant management confirmed that the recordings had been wiped.
Sowore described the development as a possible attempt to hide evidence and accused the police hierarchy in Ekiti State of covering up important details about the incident.
He further called on the police and DSS to make the relevant CCTV recordings available for public examination.
However, the allegation that security officials deliberately erased the recordings has not been independently established.
There is also no publicly confirmed finding showing who removed the recordings or why they were missing.
This makes the handling of the CCTV equipment an important part of the investigation. Premium Times Nigeria +1
Sowore Questions Police Over Investigation
Sowore has also questioned the way the police are handling the case.
He said he contacted the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, the Divisional Police Officer of Ado-Ekiti Central Police Station, Mustapha Mohammed, and the commander of the state's Rapid Response Squad.
According to Sowore, he wanted to know what steps the police had taken since the incident.
He claimed that the officers told him there was no complainant because he had not submitted a written statement.
Sowore questioned this explanation, saying that police officers had already responded to the incident, rescued victims and taken them to hospital.
He also claimed that weapons, stolen phones and other items had been recovered.
The activist further alleged that a phone stolen from one of his team members had been traced to the Ekiti State Governor's Lodge.
He demanded answers from the police over the reported location of the device.
These claims remain allegations and require independent checks. The police have not publicly confirmed that the phone was found at the Governor's Lodge. Premium Times Nigeria +1
Police Arrest 11 Suspects Over Ekiti Attack
Amid the disagreement, the Ekiti State Police Command announced the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with the incident.
According to reports by Premium Times, the suspects were arrested in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti by the police Rapid Response Squad.
The police said investigations were continuing to establish the individual roles of those arrested and identify anyone else who may have been involved.
The arrests are an important development in the case. However, an arrest does not mean that a suspect has been found guilty.
The police are expected to gather evidence and take appropriate legal action against anyone found responsible.
The investigation will also need to establish whether the people seen in Sowore's newly released video are among those already arrested. Premium Times Nigeria +1
Sowore Leads Protest at Police Headquarters in Abuja
The disagreement over the investigation moved beyond social media on Tuesday, November 3, when Sowore led supporters in a protest at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja.
The protesters demanded a full investigation into the attack and called for the arrest and prosecution of everyone found responsible.
They also called for action against any security officials found to have taken part in the violence or interfered with the investigation.
Some protesters demanded the removal of Ekiti State Commissioner of Police Michael Falade, accusing him of failing to handle the matter properly.
During the protest, police officers formed a human barricade at the entrance of the headquarters to prevent the protesters from entering the premises.
However, a senior police officer spoke with Sowore and urged the protesters to remain calm.
The officer assured them that the police were still working on the case and would investigate the incident.
The protesters also submitted a petition to the police representative.
The demonstration showed that the matter was no longer limited to disagreements between Sowore and the Ekiti State Police Command. It had become a wider demand for accountability from the security authorities. Premium Times Nigeria
What Happens Next?
The next major step is for the police to establish exactly what happened at Tawakalitu Restaurant on October 30.
Investigators will need to examine the available video recordings, identify the people involved and establish whether the arrested suspects took part in the incident.
The claims about the missing CCTV recordings also need proper attention.
If the recordings were removed or deleted, investigators will need to establish how this happened, who handled the equipment and whether any other copies of the footage exist.
The allegations involving the reported location of the stolen phone also need to be checked.
Most importantly, the authorities must ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable, regardless of their position or connections.
The police have said investigations are ongoing, but the public will expect clear answers as more evidence becomes available.
The Search for Answers Must Not End With the Video
Sowore's release of the footage has added a new dimension to the investigation into the Ekiti attack.
While the video may help investigators identify people who were present during the confrontation, it is only one part of the evidence needed to establish what happened.
The reported arrests, disputed CCTV recordings and allegations involving security officials all require proper examination.
For Sowore and his team, the demand is clear: those responsible must face justice.
For the police, the challenge is to carry out an investigation that is open, fair and supported by evidence.
Until the important questions are answered, the incident will remain a serious test of public trust in the ability of security agencies to investigate politically sensitive cases.