A two-year-old girl lost her life on Wednesday evening after a commercial driver, engaged in a struggle with officers of the Edo State Public Safety Response (PSR) Team, lost control of his vehicle at Ring Road, Benin.
Eyewitnesses reported that the PSR officers, in an attempt to apprehend the driver, forcefully seized the steering wheel, leading the vehicle to veer off the road. The bus rammed into a roadside PoS kiosk, where the young girl and her mother were standing, killing the child instantly.
Angry Crowd Attacks PSR Operatives
The tragic accident provoked outrage among residents at the scene. Enraged by the reckless approach of the PSR operatives, an angry mob attacked the officers, beating them before dragging them, along with the deceased child’s body, to a nearby police station.
Human rights activist Kola Edokpayi, who witnessed the scene, condemned the conduct of the PSR operatives. He called on the government to train its personnel on modern law enforcement techniques rather than applying outdated and dangerous methods in public safety enforcement.
Edokpayi lamented, “We know how difficult it is for a mother to carry a baby for nine months and then lose her child to such carelessness. Instead of following the law, they were struggling for the steering wheel while the driver was in motion. This was totally avoidable.”
He further criticized the government’s lack of basic infrastructure and support for citizens, adding that the PSR operatives should have handled the traffic violation properly by documenting the offense and issuing a court summons, instead of resorting to violent tactics.
Government’s Response and Planned Reforms
Following public outrage, the Edo State Government expressed deep sorrow over the child’s death. In a statement on Thursday, Bugie Okhuemoi, a senior aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo, stated that the governor was saddened by the incident and assured residents that a thorough review of the PSR team’s operations would be conducted.
“The PSR team was set up to maintain public order, protect infrastructure, and curb illegal activities such as street trading and illegal parking. However, we recognize the growing concerns over the manner in which some of its officials operate,” Okhuemoi stated.
He added that the government would review personnel recruitment, the scope of authority, and engagement procedures of the PSR team to ensure that all government-sanctioned activities uphold professionalism, fairness, and respect for human dignity.
Governor Okpebholo emphasized that governance should serve and protect the people, not endanger them, and assured residents that measures would be put in place to prevent future tragedies.
“The Edo State Government will not tolerate any action by government agents that disrespects, dehumanizes, or endangers the lives of the people,” the statement continued.
Calls for Justice and Safer Law Enforcement Practices
Many Edo residents and civil rights groups are now demanding justice for the deceased child and calling for the prosecution of the officers involved. There is also growing pressure on the government to introduce better safety protocols for traffic law enforcement.
As investigations continue, Edo State residents have been urged to remain calm, with the government promising swift action to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
This tragedy has once again highlighted the urgent need for law enforcement reforms in Nigeria, where unregulated tactics by security agents often lead to unnecessary injuries and fatalities.
