Edo Commissioner Responds to Abduction of 90-Year-Old Man

Kassim Afegbua, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Edo State, addressed the abduction of 90-year-old Pa Joseph Iduoriyekemwen, who is the father of Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Edo South Senatorial District. The abduction occurred in the early hours of yesterday at Iduoriyekemwen's residence in Amagba, Benin City.

Afegbua described the incident as “morally reprehensible” and cautioned against linking it to political motives without concrete evidence. He criticized those hastily accusing the state government of involvement, stating that such allegations could undermine efforts to combat insecurity.

Governor Monday Okpebholo has invested in security infrastructure and directed security agencies to ensure the immediate release of Pa Iduoriyekemwen. Afegbua noted that a special court recently sentenced four kidnappers to death, emphasizing that this incident is a setback to the government's anti-crime efforts and called for public assistance in locating the abducted individual.