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The Edo government responded to taking action on the state’s PSR operations.
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The death of a 2-year-old girl ended PSRT in Edo State.
Edo Governor Sunday Senator Okpehbolo suspended activities of the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) led by Kelly Okungbowa.
The suspension occurred on Friday, March 14, 2025 due to a series of complaints from the public, especially the death of a 2-year-old girl on Wednesday.
PSRT is a team formed by the government to ensure public safety, public order maintenance, protect public facilities, and eliminate illegal activities such as street trade and illegal parking in the state.
Their efforts to clean up ihama, the people selling hard drugs in Edo State are very praised by the public, but the chaos they have encountered recently has caused the public to oppose them.
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According to witnesses, some PSRT officers were caught in the steering of a commercial bus driver, and many proved that the driver did not violate any road laws.
The persistence and chaotic efforts of public safety took over the steering caused the driver to lose control and turn to the road.
The bus hit a nearby point of sale (POS) kiosk where the mother and her little girl happened to sit.
The collision did not give any victims a way to escape as it knocked them into the concrete slab and killed the little girl immediately.
“She didn’t have a chance to escape. The bus hit her and her mother on the concrete slab, but she was the only one who died. It was terrible,” the witness said.
The angry crowd at the scene reportedly turned on the PSR operators, beat them up, and then took them to a nearby police station with the inanimate body of the child.
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Many people expressed anger at the incident. “It’s not just an accident. This happens when the government gives the revenue collection to untrained thugs instead of using the proper system. It’s probably anyone’s kids,” said one of them.
Another said: “Some public safety response officer carelessness caused the death of this little child. You see a driver, driving traffic, you should collect his details and may provide him with paper tomorrow, but you are using the 16th century method to solve the 21st century problem.” He continued: “He is dragging the steering wheel with the driver, and the people around him are not safe, and you are not safe. I know this is not what the government sent them to do.”
Whether on social media or through the press, relevant human rights activists and the public have called on the governor to take action on the case.
The governor of Edo State acknowledged the call from his subjects issued a statement that suspended the PRS team.
State Secretary Umar Ikhilor (SSG) Edo State signed the following statement:
“Here is announced that Edo State Governor, Senator Okpebholo on Monday has ordered an indefinite suspension of the public safety response team led by Kelly Okungbowa.
The decision was caused by several complaints received by the state government against allegations of extortion, harassment and unruly conduct by team members.
The government remains committed to maintaining law and order and will not tolerate any deviation from the original purpose of the team being formed, which is to help maintain public order, assist in protecting public infrastructure and curbing illegal activities such as street trade and illegal parking in our communities.
“The structure and operation of the team will be reviewed in detail, especially the recruitment process and training of personnel, to ensure that all government-approved activities in the state reflect the highest professionalism, equity, order, order and respect for human dignity.”
This is a deterrent to other government agencies that abuse their power and do not enforce their work decisions.
The Edo State government restored citizens’ trust in him through actions against PSR agents.
