A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday evening in Benin City, Edo State, when a two-year-old girl was crushed to death by a commercial driver following a clash with officers of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSR).
According to an eyewitness who requested anonymity, the PSR operatives attempted to seize the steering wheel of the moving vehicle, leading the driver to lose control. As a result, the bus veered off the road and crashed into a roadside PoS kiosk where the child and her mother were standing, killing the girl instantly.
Enraged by the incident, bystanders reportedly attacked the PSR officers before taking them, along with the child’s body, to a nearby police station.
Human rights activist Kola Edokpayi, who witnessed the incident, condemned the actions of the PSR operatives and called on the government to train its personnel in modern law enforcement practices.
“What happened this evening is heartbreaking for any parent. A mother carried a baby for nine months, only to lose her in such a tragic manner,” Edokpayi said.
He criticized the PSR team for their reckless approach, stating that they should have handled the situation differently. “If a driver is breaking the law, you take down his details and issue him a court summons. Instead, they used outdated methods, wrestling for the steering wheel of a moving vehicle, which led to this unfortunate loss of life.”
Reacting to the tragedy, a senior aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Bugie Okhuemoi, released a statement on Thursday expressing the governor’s deep sorrow over the incident.
“The PSR team was established to maintain public order and curb illegal activities, but we acknowledge the concerns raised by residents regarding their operations,” the statement read.
He assured the public that the government would conduct a thorough review of the PSR team’s structure, recruitment process, and operational procedures to prevent future incidents.
“Governor Okpebholo will not tolerate any actions by government agents that endanger the lives of Edo citizens. Governance must serve and protect the people, not bring them harm,” Okhuemoi stated.
The government urged residents to remain calm as it takes urgent steps to address the situation and prevent a recurrence of such tragedies.
