Protesters on Thursday unloaded a truck filled with rice in the Urora community of Ikpoba-okha Local Government, Edo State.
Witnesses reported that the protesters found the truck parked on the road during their demonstration in the community.
Some beneficiaries, speaking anonymously, suggested that the rice might have been intended as federal aid for Edo residents but was allegedly diverted by local politicians. They noted the rice was in 10kg sacks, typically distributed as palliatives.
They pledged to uncover all hidden stashes of federal palliatives meant for the state.
The protesters also recorded videos of the looting from the truck.
Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, denied that the rice belonged to the state. He accused opposition parties of using the incident to gain political points.
Nehikhare stated, “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 amid the ‘EndBadGovernance’ protests.
“The videos circulating are reportedly from the Urora area of Ikpoba Hill, Benin. The government does not have a warehouse in that location.”