The Edo State Government, led by Governor Monday Okpebholo, has strongly denied allegations that it approved a ₦6 billion compensation to Fulani herdsmen, describing the claims as false and inflammatory. The government also accused the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of stoking ethnic tensions in the state.
In a statement on Monday, IPOB alleged that the Edo State government paid ₦6 billion as compensation for the lynching of Northern hunters in Uromi. The group questioned the move, citing years of damage allegedly caused by Fulani herdsmen to local farms and communities without any form of reparations. IPOB also accused the governor of betraying the state by allegedly handing over local vigilantes to Fulani authorities.
Describing Governor Okpebholo as a “pawn of the Caliphate,” IPOB urged the people of Edo State to demand his resignation, claiming his actions have endangered the state and emboldened Fulani terrorists. The group also called on Southern and Middle Belt governors to stand up against what it described as a Fulani conquest agenda.
However, in a statement released on Thursday, the Edo State Government dismissed the accusations as “fictitious, malicious, and deliberately misleading.” The government reaffirmed that no compensation of ₦6 billion—or any amount—was paid to any group and emphasized that Governor Okpebholo remains committed to justice, peace, and the rule of law.
“The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to a recent press statement issued by IPOB, a proscribed terrorist organization, falsely accusing Governor Monday Okpebholo of allocating ₦6 billion to so-called Fulani terrorists,” the statement read. “This is a vile attempt to sow ethnic division and destabilize the peace that Edo State is known for.”
The government warned that IPOB’s actions are criminal and urged security agencies to investigate those responsible for the publication. It stressed that Edo people are known for tolerance, unity, and peaceful coexistence, and will not be swayed by “criminals masquerading as freedom fighters.”
“No vigilantes were handed over to any group, and the claims being spread are a gross insult to the memory and service of Edo’s security personnel,” the statement added.
It concluded by rejecting IPOB’s rhetoric, labeling the group’s record of violence, killings, and unlawful sit-at-home orders as hypocritical in light of its calls for justice. “Their terrorist ideology has no place in Edo,” the government declared.
