A tragic incident in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Wednesday evening, led to the death of a two-year-old girl, who was crushed by a commercial driver following a clash with officers of the Edo State Public Safety Response (PSR) Team at Ring Road.
Eyewitnesses reported that PSR operatives attempted to seize the steering wheel of the moving vehicle, causing the driver to lose control.
The bus then veered off the road, ramming into a roadside PoS kiosk, where the toddler and her mother were standing. The child was killed instantly.
An enraged crowd at the scene attacked the PSR officers before taking them, along with the child’s lifeless body, to a nearby police station.
Human rights activist, Mr. Kola Edokpayi, who witnessed the incident, condemned the officers’ actions and urged the government to train its personnel on modern law enforcement techniques.
‘What happened this evening is heartbreaking. We know how difficult it is for a mother to carry a baby for nine months and give birth, only for carelessness to take the child’s life’, Edokpayi lamented.
He criticised the officers’ methods, saying: ‘Instead of handling the situation professionally, they resorted to outdated tactics.
‘If a driver is breaking traffic laws, you collect his particulars and summon him to court—not drag the steering wheel with him’.
In a statement on Thursday, an aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Bugie Okhuemoilo, expressed the boss’ sadness over the incident.
‘The PSR Team was created to maintain public order, protect infrastructure, and curb illegal activities such as street trading and illegal parking.
‘However, we recognize the growing concerns about some of its procedures’, Okhuemoi stated.
He announced that the government would conduct a comprehensive review of the PSR Team, focusing on personnel recruitment, authority scope, and public engagement procedures to ensure professionalism and respect for human dignity.
‘Governor Monday Okpebholo will not tolerate actions by government agents that endanger or disrespect the people of Edo State.
‘Governance must serve the people, not bring them harm. The government is taking decisive steps to prevent such tragedies in the future’, he added.
The governor also appealed for calm as the state addressed the situation with urgency.
