A truckload of rice was on Thursday looted by protesters in the Urora community of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government, Edo State.
According to witnesses who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, the truck was discovered parked on a road during the community protests.
Some locals, who chose to remain anonymous, speculated that the rice might have been intended for Edo residents by the Federal Government but was allegedly diverted.
The protesters claimed that the rice, packed in 10kg sacks, was meant for distribution but was being redirected by state politicians.
They vowed to investigate and locate all hidden federal palliatives meant for Edo.
Videos of the looting were circulated online, showing the truck being emptied by the protesters.
However, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, refuted claims that the rice was state property.
Nehikhare argued that the footage circulating was part of a political strategy by opposition parties to gain leverage.
He clarified, “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 ‘EndBadBGovernance protests. The videos circulating are reported to have originated from the Urora area of Ikpoba Hill, Benin, and the government does not operate any warehouse in that location.”
