According to the police, the actual incident occurred on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at about 11:30am, at the POWA Shops area within Ekpoma Division.
The Edo State Police Command has dismissed viral social media reports claiming that a police station in Ekpoma was gutted by fire, stating that the information is false, misleading, and deliberately crafted to cause panic.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the Command clarified that no police facility or station was affected by fire in Ekpoma, contrary to widespread online claims.
According to the police, the actual incident occurred on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at about 11:30am, at the POWA Shops area within Ekpoma Division.
Meanwhile, the fire reportedly started after electricity was restored by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), when a spark from one of the shops ignited a blaze that spread to adjoining shops.
The statement read, "The Command wishes to categorically state that no Police facility or station was affected by fire in Ekpoma. The viral claims are entirely untrue and calculated to misinform the public, generate panic, and undermine public confidence.
"The actual incident occurred on Sunday, 11th January, 2026, at about 1130hrs, when electricity supply was restored by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and a spark reportedly emanated from one of the shops within the Powa Shops area of Ekpoma Division, igniting a fire that spread across several adjoining shops."
The Command disclosed that police personnel, working alongside members of the public, swiftly intervened to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from escalating further.
The Edo Police Command condemned what it described as the reckless spread of unverified information by individuals and content creators seeking social media relevance, warning that such actions could trigger public panic, economic disruption and security threats.
“The Command strongly condemns the deliberate spread of false information by individuals and content creators who, in their desperate pursuit of social media relevance, propagate unverified and sensational narratives capable of causing public panic, economic disruption, and security threats, highlighting that such reckless misinformation does not only mislead the public but also diverts emergency resources, damages institutional credibility, and may trigger avoidable unrest,” it said.
"Members of the public are therefore advised to always verify information from credible and official sources before sharing.”
Reassuring residents, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, said the security situation in Ekpoma remains calm and fully under control.
He advised citizens to remain law-abiding and to disregard unverified reports capable of inciting fear or confusion.
The police further encouraged the public to rely on the Command’s official communication channels for accurate and timely information.