A tragic incident in Benin City 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 childās lifeless body, to a nearby police station.
Human rights activist Kola Edokpayi, who witnessed the incident, condemned the officersā actions and urged the government to train its personnel on modern law enforcement techniques.
āWhat 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 childās life,ā Edokpayi lamented.
He criticized the officersā methods, saying, āInstead of handling the situation professionally, they resorted to outdated tactics.
āIf a driver is breaking traffic laws, you collect his particulars and summon him to courtānot drag the steering wheel with him.ā
In response, Bugie Okhuemoi, an aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo, issued a statement on Thursday, expressing the governorās sadness over the incident.
āThe PSR Team was created to maintain public order, protect infrastructure, and curb illegal activities such as street trading and illegal parking.
āHowever, we recognize the growing concerns about some of its procedures,ā 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.
āGovernor Monday Okpebholo will not tolerate actions by government agents that endanger or disrespect the people of Edo State.
āGovernance must serve the people, not bring them harm. The government is taking decisive steps to prevent such tragedies in the future,ā he added.
The governor also appealed for calm as the state addressed the situation with urgency.