Gov Monday Okpebholo
• Two year old child dead, mother lies critically ill in hospital
• Provoked area boys on rampage seeking vengeance
Kingsley Abavo in Benin
It was a sad day in Benin, Edo State on Wednesday evening, 12 March, 2025 at the Lagos street junction, in the popular City centre; King’s Square a.k.a Ring Road.
The governor Monday Okpebholo’s Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) operatives in black uniform; in the deployment of their crude and uncivilised method of doing their job, caused a fatal accident which claimed the life of a two year old child.
Witnesses said; trouble began when one of the operatives approached a commercial bus driver in their usual crude manners for an unknown traffic violation.
The operatives jumped down from their vehicle and tried to force themselves into the bus that was still in motion, while struggling the steering with the driver; in an attempt to possibly arrest him.
“The bus driver maneuvered and tried to escape but the taskforce officials (PSRT operatives) held on to his steering.
“The steering scuffle continued while the bus was still on motion. In the ensuing confusion, the driver lost control and rammed into a toddler who was standing beside her mother’s wares on the roadside.
“The vehicle smashed the toddler’s head to the concret floor which killed her instantly with the mother escaping death by the whisker, though also in a critical condition.”
This simultaneously provoked area boys to go on rampage seeking revenge; and heavily descended on any of the operatives in sight.
The police who in their efforts to control the situation from degenerating into more disaster, were also not spared.
As one of them who was beaten to pulp bled seriously from a head injury close to the ear region.
His uniform was torn all over after he was dragged on the ground by the angry mobs before he managed to wriggle himself free.
The victim in a pitiable state gasped for breath and was in a dire need of medical attention; as his colleagues on ground looked at him helplessly, without any serious attempt to help.
We scooped that the officials are taking the State back to the dark days of yore; as drivers lament their ordeal.
According to reliable sources, on daily basis, drivers are exposed to the scourge of these government operatives and making life miserable for them.
“A moment ago, I paid N15,000 to them for alleged wrong parking, yesterday, it was N12,000.”
While another source said these operatives are the same persons the immediate past administration of Godwin Obaseki used.
“It is a case of new wine in old bottle. They are the same persons used by the immediate past administration of Obaseki.
“They only changed their names and uniforms.”
In response, the Edo State Police Command said a full scale investigation into the incident has been initiated.
It revealed, the unfortunate incident involved a white Vannette bus with reg. no BEN 406 YA “ramming into some pedestrian, ostensibly to evade arrest by members of the Edo State Public Safety Response.”
In a statement on Thursday, 13 March, 2025 the State Police spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu added: “a girl of about two year-old lost her life while the mother is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
“A member of the Public Safety Response accused of causing the accident, was rescued from a mob and taken into custody for investigation.
“The lifeless body of the child was rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.”
Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest the driver who fled the scene, Yamu added.
As he quoted the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Enekpen Otimenyin, to had urged motorists to observe all traffic rules, obey constituted authorities and exercise patience while on the road.
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