Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State, has claimed that a Nigerian living in Russia and other foreign nations funded the anti-kidnapping demonstration held by the people of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, on January 10, 2026.
According to reports, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo made the accusations in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Patrick Ebojele.
Additionally, Okpebholo said that opposition groups are funding the disturbances in an effort to undermine the Edo State Government and cause instability, perhaps with assistance from abroad.
He pointed out that the violent protest was a part of a concerted effort to mislead the people and destabilize the state, despite rejecting as fake and deceptive a number of social media posts about it.
He said that the demonstration was actually a well-planned riot organized by a Nigerian who lived in Russia and other foreign countries.
He claimed that security services had already located the masterminds, who had contacted a number of people in Ekpoma and suggested using money from the diaspora to organize coordinated riots in Ekpoma, Auchi, Irrua, and even the Government House in Benin City.
Additionally, the governor denied that students from Ambrose Alli University, AAU, and Ekpoma were among those detained and charged in relation to the violence, or that their detentions took place in dorms.
He asserted that all students had left the dorms well in advance of the incident and that AAU is now on vacation.
Additionally, he said that the majority of the arrests were supported by unmistakable proof, such as a video depicting violent and destructive behavior, and that the individuals detained were rioters rather than nonviolent demonstrators.
He claims that the government also emphasized that neither students nor the National Association of Nigerian Students, or NANS, had anything to do with the occurrence.
“Those detained were allegedly on their way to damage campus property when they were stopped. Others’ faces were recognized on the widely shared video of the event, which showed several acts of arson being committed, he added.
Okpebholo further refuted another widely shared video that was mistakenly labeled as a kidnapping occurrence in Ekpoma, claiming that it was a flagrant misrepresentation.
He explained that the film was a part of a planned effort to instill panic, deceive locals, and damage the administration’s reputation.
Nonetheless, he reiterated his dedication to safeguarding people and property, revealing that the administration is actively collaborating with security services to uphold law and order throughout the state.
While acknowledging that the right to peaceful and legal protest is guaranteed by the constitution, the governor also stated that rioting, violence, damage, and looting will never be accepted.
In the same way that he reassured the people of Ekpoma that everything is under control and that calm and normalcy are returning to the town, he asked the public to disregard phony videos and unconfirmed reports.