Edo govt alleges diaspora funding behind Ekpoma unrest

The Edo State Government has alleged that the recent protest in Ekpoma was a coordinated riot sponsored by Nigerians living abroad, including individuals resident in Russia and other overseas locations.

The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele. He dismissed reports circulating on social media about the incident as false and misleading, describing them as part of a deliberate attempt to misinform the public and destabilise the state.

According to the statement, security agencies have identified alleged masterminds who reportedly contacted individuals in Ekpoma to organise coordinated riots across Ekpoma, Auchi, Irrua and even the Government House in Benin City, with funding traced to the diaspora.

On claims that students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, were arrested during the protest, the government said those detained and currently facing prosecution were students of the institution, stressing that their arrest was based on intelligence and available evidence. It noted that AAU was officially closed at the time, with students having vacated hostels before the incident.

The statement added that some of those arrested were intercepted while allegedly moving towards the university campus to vandalise property, while others were identified from viral videos showing acts of arson and destruction during the unrest.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the continued detention of 52 AAU students arrested in connection with the protest, which was initially organised to draw attention to rising cases of kidnapping and insecurity affecting students and host communities.

In a statement, NANS spokesperson, Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, described the detention as unacceptable and disturbing, insisting that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and not a criminal offence.

“NANS demands the immediate and unconditional release of all 52 students. Their safety and well-being must be guaranteed at all times,” the statement read, warning that the association would mobilise lawful actions if the students were not released.

Similarly, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) called on Governor Okpebholo and relevant authorities to secure the immediate release of the detained students.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also criticised the Federal Government over the incident, describing the detention of the students as intolerant and heavy-handed. In a post on his X handle, Atiku said the students had the constitutional right to protest against insecurity, adding that their continued detention was unjustifiable.

In response to the growing pressure, the Edo State Government said bona fide AAU students remanded in a correctional facility would be released. The Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, disclosed this in Ubiaja, Esan South-East Local Council Area, where he went to facilitate the release process.

Iyamu said investigations revealed that the protest was allegedly hijacked by a group known as the “Comrade Association,” which he described as comprising former students who exploited the situation to cause violence and destruction.

In a related development, the Edo State Police Command has redeployed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ekpoma. The command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, said CSP Tomofe Nwabueze had been posted as the new DPO with immediate effect. The redeployment is believed to be linked to concerns over rising insecurity in the area.