The Edo State Government, in a statement signed by Chris Osa Nehikhare, Hon. Commissioner of Communication, said it has received information about the looting of bags of rice from unidentified truck and private residences in parts of Benin City in the wake of the #EndBadGovernance protests.
He said the videos making the rounds were said to have emanated from the Urora axis of Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, and that the government does not have a warehouse in that location.
It reads "The government supports the vulnerable with relief materials through religious organisations particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and the Edo State Muslims Pilgrim Welfare Board.
"The State government does not keep any relief material by itself but reaches out to the people through these channels.
"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 practice.
"The public is enjoined to disregard the malicious message that these people are trying to send with the video.
"We want to once again urge protesters not to attack or destroy the property of others as they go about their demonstration in a peaceful and orderly manner," the statement stated