From Osaigbovo Iguobaro
Public disorder fuelled by lawlessness became a partial account of aberrant behaviour that led to the indefinite suspension of Kelly Okungbowa better known as ‘Ebo stone’-led Edo State Public Safety Response Team by Governor Monday Okpebholo on Friday March 14th 2025.
This development turned instant social media rave, after the snide remarks over the death of a toddler in traffic accident caused by a road traffic rules violator and officials of PRST and his arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged Naira abuse at a party in Benin City.
The suspension notice by Governor Monday Okpebholo was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, following the killing of the toddler by officials of the team on Wednesday March 11th.
Without benefit of the doubt, the government said PSRT suspension will pave the way for a thorough review of the team’s structure, operations, recruitment, and training of its personnel.
Several new models are in the works under this administration. This assurance, is consistent with critics ideas in boxing the Government to a corner with guilt.
Some Nigerians believe that the suspension order was in the right direction by the Government, which conforms with the manner government businesses are conducted, particularly eradication of public menace including trading at unauthorized locations in the State.
Multiple reports said the tragedy struck when the members of the team, struggled a commercial bus vehicle’s steering with a commercial bus driver accused of violating traffic laws at Sokponba junction by the King’s square in Benin City where the personnel accosted the commercial bus driver.
A witness told journalists that “the Public Safety Response personnel alighted from their vehicle and tried to force themselves into the commercial bus in question.
“The bus driver maneuvered and tried to escape, but the taskforce officials held on to his steering.
“The 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 against the concrete pavement, while her Guardian escaped death by the whiskers” according to the witness.
In a swift response, the Nigeria police Command in Edo State said it has initiated full investigation into the fatal accident.
The Command said the tragic incident involved a white Vannette bus marked BEN 406 YA, “ramming into some pedestrian, ostensibly to evade arrest by members of the Edo State Public Safety Response.”
The police spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu recalled that “a girl of about 2-year-old lost her life while the mother is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.”
“A member of the Public Safety Response team 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”, according to the statement released on Thursday March 13th 2025.
Commissioner of police in the State, CP Betty Enekpen Otimenyin, also urged motorists in the State to observe all traffic rules, obey constituted authorities and exercise patience while on the road”.
Viral footages of the incident that occured late Wednesday March 11th 2025, racked up million watches and had many viewers scratching their heads.
Beyond wielding the big stick, the societal nuisance — becoming a big sticking points in Okpebholo’s government, requires urgent intervention and review if the suspended team will either be returned or replaced by the State government.
Individuals saddled with the responsibility of maintaining laws and order in this clime, are seen as tax collectors who are never loved by the people particularly tax defaulters. Allegations of extortion, harassment, and unruly behaviour by members of the team are indeed concerning and timely.
The indefinite suspension of the Team was long expected by concerned citizens of the State arising from the approach adopted by the State government in maintaining law and order. Government’s motive in this regard could be a good one, but proper mechanism and structure weren’t put in place for its effectiveness Ab initio.
The glaring revelation of cases of enforcers dragging steering with drivers while on motion have been a common sight on the internet. In addition, a case of labeling an innocent girl prostitute had caused her trauma and mental health discomfort, considering the data gleaned from the national Drug Law Enforcement Agency, which puts the State only second behind Delta State in the South South geopolitical zone in terms of drug abuse.
There are no easy answers to the loss of a young girl during a process of enforcing a traffic offence by an uncivilized enforcer.
Some of the concerns raised by Stakeholders, was echoed in the finding of a member of EDOSCOs, Leftist Osazee Edigin. These include lack of training of the Team’s personnel and awful conduct by enforcers and have been visible in their operations.
“There have been reckless and uncoordinated approach leading to human rights abuse and death”, according to him.
These are hard times. While concerned Nigerians are demanding inquiry and justice for the dead toddler, the victim’s family, was captured in a video with some notable youth leaders in the State, saying that the issue has been settled.
A United Kingdom based blogger, Albert Obazee in a post alleged that the parents of baby Gifted Kelly, through their lawyer.
He stated that he has accepted a compensation of ₦3 million from suspended PSRT leader, following collective efforts to demand justice for the victim from agents of the government through the back channel.
Obazee said, “Regrettably, the father (Kelly Eseosa) has decided to accept the compensation and have withdrawn their pursuit of justice as the child was hurriedly buried.
He also stated that three lawyers that were recruited in the planned litigation against the State government, have also withdrawn their services.
But, the State government said, “The Government remains committed to upholding law and order and will not tolerate any deviation from the original purpose for which the Team was set up, which is to help maintain public order, assist in protecting public infrastructure and curb illegal activities like street trading and illegal parking in our
Communities.
Ikhilor also assured that “a thorough review of the team’s structure and operations, particularly
recruitment processes and training of its personnel will be conducted to ensure all government-sanctioned activities in the State reflect the highest standard of professionalism, fairness, orderliness and respect for human dignity”.
His explanation is presumably to shield the public from unwanted opinions that threatens to erode the trust in enforcement agents without adept grasp of the challenge associated with public safety.
TheNewspad reports that membership of the PSRT was largely made up of illiterates, motor park touts and persons of questionable character. They were recruited to confront the menace of street trading and public nuisance in parts of Benin Metropolis. They employed crude force without adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or acquisition of training for the job.
How has the law enforcement agencies and CSOs handled such cases or measures that were taken?
Interventions have been made by CSOs in ensuring that victims of wrongful enforcement have been remediated and compensated. Recommendations on effected enforcement without abuse of citizen’s rights have been pursued with enforcement agencies.
Weak and compromised enforcement agents have emboldened violators to disregard rules guarding public conducts having been identified as the habingers of dis-orderliness in Edo, and this is why enforcement of law and order is difficult in parts of the State. In addition, lack of training for drivers on road use and consequences of violation are missing. Impunity have been energized by societal support for Road abuse.
Expectedly, the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party in a statement argues that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC government is treating symptoms and ignoring the real problems in the State arising from the suspension of PSRT.
“Unfortunately for Okpebholo, these suspensions are mere symptoms of the real problem. The real problem is that he is sitting on an illegitimate mandate”, according to the statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, who seems to be unrelenting in the public expression of rage towards the Okpebholo’s government.
The PDP brushed aside the sacking of a red district area at Ihama, GRA where commercial sex workers and drug barons use as their hideouts through brick-and-mortar approach as one of the milestones that was recorded by the suspended PSRT.
Throwing the kitchen sink at the power structure, the party spokesman said, “The only way peace can be restored in Edo State is when the mandate which was violently stolen by Okpebholo is returned to Asue Ighodalo, who was duly elected by the people of the State at the last gubernatorial election”.
According to him, “No one holds a personal grudge or has a problem with Okpebholo. His government is illegitimate, and illegitimacy cannot magically transform into legitimacy. So, the earlier the real problem is solved, the better for Edo State and its people.
“We, however, encourage the good people of Edo State to remain hopeful and courageous. By the grace of God, justice will prevail, and the judiciary will return the legitimate owner of the mandate and Edo State will find peace again”.
But, the State Commissioner for Information, Paul Ohonbamu in his recent statement in reaction to the-state-of insecurity in the State, said the situation is not peculiar to the State.
He stated that the State Chairman of PDP, Tony Aziegbemi was kidnapped during the tenure of the erstwhile administration of Godwin Obaseki who leaders of the main opposition pride as the ‘man with the magic wand’ to all problems.
Ohonbamu also blamed the PDP for the insecurity in parts of the State, and accordingly urged the party to take full responsibility for it.
What are the way forward out the supposed breakdown of law and order in the public space?
Again, Leftist Edigin advised the State Government to adopt strigent punishment for violators and ensure any compromised enforcer faces a higher sanction than a violator left-off the hook due to financial or any other inducement.
He also recommended that a register of violators be made public for evaluation as the Government ramps up plan to either replace the PSRT or tweak the PSRT for effective operation and Management.
There is urgent need for safeguards in checkmating abuse of power by government agents. A well paved roads, proper markings, clear signage, and disciplined drivers could help curb road crashes in the State. This lies at the heart of restoring public order that will make Edo work for everyone regardless of ethnic, religious and political affiliations.
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