In a heartbreaking incident that unfolded on Wednesday evening at Ring Road, Benin City, a two-year-old girl lost her life after being crushed by a commercial bus. The tragic event occurred when officers of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSR) attempted to seize the steering wheel of the moving vehicle, causing the driver to lose control.
The incident took place in a busy area of Benin City, where the PSR officers were trying to enforce road safety. Eyewitnesses at the scene described a chaotic scene as two officers struggled with the commercial bus driver over control of the vehicle. The officers attempted to drag the steering wheel from the driver, who was reportedly driving against traffic at the time.
According to one eyewitness, who preferred to remain anonymous, the struggle between the officers and the driver led to the vehicle swerving off the road. The bus crashed into a roadside Point of Sale (PoS) kiosk, where the young girl and her mother were standing. The impact was so severe that the child was thrown from the kiosk and struck by the bus, causing her death almost instantly. The mother, who was standing nearby, was also thrown against the concrete slabs but survived with injuries.
The sight of the lifeless child and the injured mother led to an angry crowd gathering at the scene. The bystanders quickly turned their anger toward the PSR officers, accusing them of causing the tragedy. In the heat of the moment, the officers were beaten by the crowd before being taken to a nearby police station along with the child’s body.
The PSR was established by the Edo State government to help maintain public order and protect public infrastructure. The team is tasked with tackling illegal activities such as street trading and illegal parking. However, this tragic incident has raised serious questions about the team’s methods and their ability to carry out their duties without causing harm to the public.
In response to the tragic incident, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, expressed his deep sadness. In a statement released by his spokesperson, Bugie Okhuemoi, the Governor conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the grieving family.
“The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, is deeply pained by this devastating event. The governor extends his most sincere condolences to the grieving family. No parent should have to endure such an unimaginable loss, and he shares in their sorrow during this difficult time,” the statement said.
Governor Okpebholo also assured that an immediate investigation would be launched into the circumstances surrounding the incident. “Governor Okpebholo has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into this heartbreaking incident. The government is committed to ensuring that anyone found responsible is held fully accountable. No life should ever be lost due to negligence or recklessness,” the statement concluded.
The Governor’s office also highlighted that while the PSR team was set up with the aim of improving safety on the streets, this tragic event highlighted the need for better training and clear guidelines for the team’s operations. It is hoped that the investigation will provide answers and prevent similar incidents in the future.
This tragedy has brought to light the challenges faced by the Edo State government in managing the PSR team’s operations. While the team has been praised for its efforts to remove illegal street vendors and curb other criminal activities, this incident has raised serious concerns about the team’s approach to law enforcement. Critics argue that the officers’ actions, in this case, were reckless and caused unnecessary harm to an innocent child.
The death of the young girl has sparked widespread outrage among residents of Benin City and beyond. Many are calling for a re-evaluation of the PSR team’s methods and for stricter oversight of the officers’ conduct. Some have even called for a reform of the team to ensure that such tragic events do not happen again.
The Edo State government has vowed to take all necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future, and many residents are hopeful that this tragedy will lead to meaningful reforms in the way law enforcement officers are trained and held accountable for their actions.
