Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested serving a senator Rafiu Ibrahim (PDP, Kwara South Senatorial District) following allegations he orchestrated a violence that broke out in Ojoku, Kwara State.
According to reports, the incident took place on Tuesday night leaving at least two people dead.
“We invited him for questioning on Thursday, and he was with us for several hours,” Kwara police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi said on Friday morning.
Ibrahim’s associates said he remained in custody as of Friday morning.
Okasanmi said he was unsure whether or not Mr Ibrahim, representing Kwara South Senatorial District, had been released.
Kayode Egbetokun, the Kwara police commissioner, declined comments about the development on Friday morning saying he was not in a conducive situation to speak on the matter.
Ibrahim, of the Peoples Democratic Party, was accused of unleashing a group of armed attackers against Lola Ashiru, his All Progressives Congress challenger in Kwara South.
Ashiru was reportedly on a campaign stop in Ojoku, Ibrahim’s ancestral hometown, on Tuesday night when supporters of both camps clashed.
Both camps have blamed one another for the deadly incident.
Ibrahim’s supporters accused the police of inviting and detaining only the senator, while leaving Ashiru to continue his campaign ahead of the election on Saturday.
They said his detention could hinder his election strategy, while conferring advantage on his opponent.