Police in Edo State say they have arrested a 37-year-old man in connection with the alleged rape of a 70-year-old woman in Igueben.
The Edo State Police Command said the suspect remains in custody while officers investigate the allegation.
Police spokesperson ASP Eno Ikoedem disclosed the case during a briefing on the command’s operations.
Police said the suspect would be prosecuted in accordance with the law after the investigation.
At this stage, the man is a suspect.
He has not been convicted, and the police account reviewed by IDNN does not establish that a court has made any finding against him.
Survivor identity withheld
IDNN is withholding the identity of the woman and any additional personal or community details that could expose her.
The case involves an older survivor of alleged sexual violence, making privacy, dignity and protection central to the reporting.
No graphic details are necessary to establish the public-interest issue.
Police investigation continues
The immediate legal question is what the police investigation establishes and whether formal charges follow.
That distinction matters because an arrest is not a conviction, and a police allegation is not a judicial finding.
The next verified stage would be a formal charge, arraignment or another documented legal development.
Until then, the case remains under investigation.
The wider public-interest question is whether survivors of sexual violence — including older people who may face additional vulnerability — can report abuse safely, obtain protection and receive timely access to investigation and justice.
For this case, the evidence currently supports one clear position: police have a suspect in custody, the allegation is being investigated, and responsibility has not been legally determined.