Officials of Edo State Public Safety Response (ESPSR) who were said to be struggling steering with a commercial bus driver has reportedly caused the death of a toddler in Benin City, the Edo state capital.
The tragic incident reportedly occurred Wednesday evening at the Ring Road.
Blueprint gathered that trouble started when the taskforce personnel accosted the commercial driver in a commando style at the Ring Road for an unknown traffic violation.
A eyewitness, who craved anonymity said: “The personnel alighted from their vehicle and tried to force themselves into the commercial bus.
“The bus driver maneuvered and tried to escape, but the taskforce officials 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 concrete floor, while her mother escaped death by the whiskers.
President of Talakawa parliament, Maxist Kola Edokpayi, bemoaned the incident and called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to urgently review the activities of officials of the personnel.
Edokpayi added: “As a father with kids, I am pained seeing the untimely death of the toddler. The recklessness of these supposed public safety officials is worrisome.”
Meanwhile, the Edo state police command said it has initiated full investigation into the fatal accident.
The command said the tragic 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.”