Protest: Edo Govt, APC in war of words over ownership of looted rice at Benin warehouse

The Edo State Government and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) bickered on Thursday over the ownership of looted rice from a truck parked in a warehouse located in the state.

DAILY POST reports that as the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest was ongoing in the state, a viral video of residents looting rice from the truck at the warehouse in Urora Quarters, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area, resurfaced on several social media platforms.

In the 40-second viral video, the residents were seen and heard claiming that the warehouse allegedly belonged to the state government.

According to them, “This is our rice, which the government gave us but hid. We have located it; see rice everywhere.”

“This is Urora; see the trailer of rice they gave us. The state government hid it. Everybody, go and get your own rice,” they said.

Most of the residents were seen carrying more than one bag of 10kg rice.

Reacting to the video, the Edo State Government denied ownership of the warehouse.

A statement by the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said the state Government does not keep relief materials in its warehouses, adding that the government’s feeding program for vulnerable persons in the state is implemented through religious bodies.

Nehikhare, however, accused the APC state chapter of being behind the viral video.

“The Edo State Government has received information about the looting of bags of rice from an unidentified truck and private residences in parts of Benin City in the wake of the #EndBadGovernance protests.

“The videos making the rounds are said to have originated from the Urora axis of Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, and the government does not have a warehouse in that location.

“The videos from the Urora axis of Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, are the handiwork of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a desperate attempt to score cheap political points.

“The government supports the vulnerable with relief materials through religious organizations, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, and Muslim leaders in the state.

“The state government does not keep any relief material by itself but reaches out to the people through these channels.

“The State Government further accused the APC of misleading the public with the video, adding, “We will not put this tactic past the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is spreading malicious content to score cheap political points.

“This condemnable action is intended to cause chaos in the state, and the APC is discouraged from such ignoble practices,” he said.

In its response, Acting State Chairman of APC, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, said the viral video allegedly exposed Obaseki’s deliberate plan to deprive Edo people of accessing various palliative measures.

Tenebe, who spoke at a press briefing in Benin City, alleged that there are also reports that a substantial part of the rice is being sold in markets by a prominent PDP market woman leader.

“If Edo people were ever in doubt, the video that emerged on social media today, showing an abandoned trailer load of repackaged Federal Government rice with Edo State Government inscriptions discovered by Urora residents, has exposed Obaseki’s deliberate plan to deprive Edo people of accessing different palliative measures.

“We have intelligence about several warehouses in the state hoarding rice and other grains meant for Edo people. There are also reports that a substantial part of the rice is being sold in markets by a prominent PDP market woman leader,” he stated.

The APC chairman opined that the governor’s actions amounted to economic sabotage, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should take note of.