18th June, 2012
The Presidential Amnesty Office has explained that the clash between former militants and cultists at Igbinedion University was orchestrated by a cult group.
This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Head of Media and Communications of the office, Mr Daniel Alabrah.
The statement said that for purposes of clarity, the incident, according to the police and the school’s authorities, was orchestrated by a cult group.
It said that the cultists had on Saturday attacked one of the 245 amnesty programme students in the institution and burnt the Special Utility Vehicle.
“Based on media reports on Sunday’s crisis at the Igbinedion University in Okada, Edo, the Presidential Amnesty Office wishes to clarify that its students undergoing formal education at the university did not go on rampage on Sunday.
“What actually happened was that some of the amnesty programme students in the institution resisted an attempt by an unnamed cult group members to intimidate one of their colleagues.”
The statement added that no life was lost, contrary to reports in the media.
“The police and the school’s authorities have confirmed this in separate press statements on the incident.
“This clarification became necessary to dispel inaccurate reports, which created the impression that a group of ex-Niger Delta militants at the institution went on rampage and in the process beheaded two students.”