Edo government says riot incident in Ekpoma was ‘sponsored from abroad’

The Edo State Government on Tuesday, January 13, dismissed media reports surrounding recent incidents in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, describing them as part of a coordinated attempt to misinform the public and destabilise the state. In a statement signed by Patrick Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, the government clarified that the incident was not a protest but a well-organised riot sponsored by a Nigerian resident in Russia and other locations overseas. According to the state, security agencies have already identified the suspected masterminds who allegedly contacted several individuals in Ekpoma and coordinated the unrest across Ekpoma, Auchi, Irrua and even the Government House in Benin City, with funding from the diaspora. The statement said claims that those arrested and facing prosecution in connection with the violence were students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, or that arrests were made inside student hostels, were false. AAU, it noted, is currently closed, with all students having vacated the hostels long before the incident. Those arrested were reportedly intercepted while allegedly heading to vandalise property on campus, while others had their faces identified in viral footage showing acts of arson and destruction. The suspects arrested are rioters, not peaceful protesters, the statement added, stressing that the incident had no connection with students or the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). The government also debunked another viral video circulating online and tagged as a kidnapping incident in Ekpoma, describing it as a gross misrepresentation and part of a deliberate campaign to spread fear, mislead residents, and tarnish the image of the administration. There are also indications, the state said, that opposition elements, possibly with foreign backing, are sponsoring unrest in an attempt to discredit the government and create chaos. While reaffirming its commitment to protecting lives and property, the government said it is working closely with security agencies to maintain law and order across Edo. It noted that although peaceful and lawful protest is a constitutional right, violence, rioting, vandalism, and looting will not be tolerated under any circumstances.  The post Edo government says riot incident in Ekpoma was sponsored from abroad appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.