UPDATE: Opposition Groups Raise Alarm Over Alleged Threats In Edo As Govt Denies Political Link To 90-Year-Old’s Abduction
Fresh concerns have emerged over the security situation in Edo State following an allegation by a group, Concerned Edo Voters that opposition politicians and supporters are being placed on an alleged watchlist for arrest and intimidation.
The development comes hours after the abduction of 90-year-old Pa Joseph Iduoriyekemwen, father of the African Democratic Congress senatorial candidate for Edo South, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.
NAIJAONPOINT had earlier reported that family sources said armed men arrived at Pa Iduoriyekemwen’s residence at about 4 am on Tuesday and whisked him away to an undisclosed destination.
The men were said to have identified themselves as police officers and allegedly claimed they were acting on the orders of the Edo State Governor and the Commissioner of Police.
However, the Edo State Government has rejected any suggestion that the incident was politically motivated, describing the abduction as a criminal act and directing security agencies to secure the victim’s release.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, condemned the abduction and said the government was concerned about the safety of the 90-year-old man.
Afegbua said Governor Monday Okpebholo had directed security agencies to work together to rescue Pa Iduoriyekemwen and reunite him with his family within 24 hours.
The government also urged members of the public with useful information about the incident to make such information available to security agencies to aid the investigation and rescue operation.
But in a separate statement issued on Tuesday, Concerned Edo Voters, comprising members in Nigeria and the diaspora, alleged that opposition members belonging to the ADC, Peoples Democratic Party and Nigeria Democratic Congress were being targeted for surveillance, harassment and possible arrest.
The group alleged that a list containing the names of key opposition members had been compiled for the purpose of monitoring and intimidation.
It further alleged that the Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, members of his team and persons allegedly acting on behalf of the state government were connected to the purported plan.
It identified its home contact person, Comrade Ikhuenbor Felix Igbinevbo, popularly known as Mr Figo, as one of the alleged targets, claiming that the purported threat against him went beyond arrest and included an alleged plot to kill him.
The group said the alleged objective was to intimidate opposition members and restrict their participation in political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It also linked the alleged development to the reported abduction of Pa Iduoriyekemwen, saying the circumstances surrounding the incident had heightened concerns among opposition members.
The group called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to investigate the alleged watchlist and reported threats.
It also urged international organisations and human rights groups to pay attention to developments in the state, while calling on Edo residents to remain calm, vigilant and to document credible threats.
“Credible information available to us indicates that a list has allegedly been compiled containing the names of key members and supporters of ADC, PDP, NDC and other opposition groups, allegedly for surveillance, harassment and arrest.
“In the case of Comrade Ikhuenbor Felix Igbinevbo (Mr Figo), the information available to us indicates that the alleged threat goes beyond arrest, with a possible plot to kill him and silence him permanently.
“If anything happens to Comrade Ikhuenbor Felix Igbinevbo, any member of his team or any supporter of the opposition parties, the public should know who to hold responsible.
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the DSS to investigate the alleged watchlist and reported threats to life, and provide appropriate protection.
“We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. Edo belongs to all of us,” the statement noted.
However, the Edo State Government’s position is that the abduction should not be given a political interpretation without evidence.
Afegbua said it was “most unfortunate” for some individuals to quickly accuse the government of involvement in the incident, insisting that such claims could distract attention from efforts to rescue the elderly man.
The commissioner said the state government had invested in security infrastructure and remained committed to making Edo safe for residents irrespective of their political affiliations.
He also noted that a special court established to prosecute kidnapping cases had recently sentenced four kidnappers to death, describing the latest abduction as a setback in the fight against criminality.
As at the time of filing this report, there is no independent confirmation that Pa Iduoriyekemwen was taken by persons acting on the orders of the state government or security authorities.
The state police command has also yet to officially speak on the matter.
Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, the elderly man’s son, is the ADC candidate for the Edo South Senatorial District in the 2027 election.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
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