How Arrest Of 90-year-old Edo ADC Senatorial Candidate’s Father Iduoriyekemwen Sparked Abduction Controversy

by Idahosa Musa

Controversy erupted in Edo State on Tuesday following the early-morning arrest of 90-year-old Pa. Joseph Iduoriyekemwen, father of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Edo South in the 2027 general elections, Mr. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, amid conflicting claims over whether the nonagenarian was arrested by the police or abducted by unknown gunmen.

Eearlier and an unconfirmed report said that he was abducted by unknown armed men, throwing the state into chaos.

Pa Iduoriyekemwen was reportedly taken from his residence in Amagba, a suburb of Benin, at about 4am by armed men said to have identified themselves as policemen acting on the orders of the Edo State Commissioner of Police.

While family sources initially raised the alarm that the nonagenarian had been whisked away to an undisclosed location without explanation, the Edo State Police Command subsequently dismissed the abduction narrative, insisting that he was lawfully arrested by detectives from the State Police Headquarters in connection with a petition alleging violence, gun-running and disturbance of peace in Amagba community.

The police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the arrest, said Pa Iduoriyekemwen had earlier been arrested by officers of the Amagba Police Station last month and later granted bail.

According to her, the latest arrest followed a petition submitted by some aggrieved persons in the community, alleging the elderly man’s involvement in criminal activities, including violence, illegal firearms dealings and acts capable of disturbing public peace.

“It is true that Pa Joseph Iduoriyekemwen was arrested early this morning by policemen from the state headquarters but has since been released after interrogation,” Ikoedem said, stressing that the arrest was linked to the petition against him.

But the development had already triggered a wave of concern, with reports circulating that the 90-year-old had been abducted by unknown gunmen, prompting the Edo State Government to publicly condemn what it described as a “reported abduction” and directed security agencies to secure his release