The Edo State Government on Tuesday rejected reports circulating in the media about recent events in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, describing them as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and undermine stability in the state.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele, 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 statement, security agencies have already identified individuals suspected to be behind the unrest. These persons were said to have contacted several people in Ekpoma and coordinated violent activities in Ekpoma, Auchi, Irrua, and even around the Government House in Benin City, with funding traced to sources in the diaspora.
The government firmly rejected claims that those arrested and currently facing prosecution were students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, or that arrests were carried out inside student hostels.
It explained that Ambrose Alli University is presently shut down and that students had vacated the hostels well before the incident occurred.
Those apprehended, the statement noted, were intercepted while allegedly on their way to vandalise property within the university environment, while others were identified from viral videos showing scenes of arson and destruction during the unrest.
The Edo State Government said most of the arrests were made based on clear and verifiable evidence, including video footage documenting acts of violence and damage to property.
“The suspects arrested are rioters, not peaceful protesters.”
The government further stressed that the incident had no link whatsoever to students or the National Association of Nigerian Students, dismissing such claims as false and misleading.
It also debunked another video circulating online and wrongly presented as a kidnapping incident in Ekpoma, describing it as a “gross misrepresentation.”
According to the government, the video forms part of a calculated effort to spread panic, deceive residents, and damage the image of the current administration.
The statement added that there are strong indications that “opposition elements,” possibly supported from outside the country, are sponsoring the unrest as part of a plan to discredit the government and create instability.
While reiterating its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, the Edo State Government said it is working closely with security agencies to ensure law and order across the state.
It emphasised that although peaceful and lawful protest remains a constitutional right, acts of violence, rioting, vandalism, and looting will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The government assured residents of Ekpoma that the situation is fully under control and urged the public to disregard fake videos and unverified reports, remain calm, and continue with their lawful activities.
What you should know
The Edo State Government insists the Ekpoma incident was not a student protest but a coordinated riot allegedly funded from abroad.
Authorities say suspects have been identified through intelligence and video evidence, while claims linking the unrest to Ambrose Alli University students or NANS have been dismissed. The government also warned against the spread of fake videos and misinformation, describing them as part of a wider attempt to destabilise the state and discredit the administration.
Security agencies have been deployed to maintain order, with assurances that the situation remains under control.
