Following the tragic death of a two-year-old girl, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has swung the heavy stick and ordered the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) to be suspended indefinitely.
The crew, under the leadership of Kelly Okungbowa, was accused of extortion, harassment, and irresponsible misconduct on several occasions, but the last straw was when their careless behavior resulted in the terrible crushing of a toddler and seriously hurt her mother.
Umar Musa Ikhilor, the secretary to the state government, reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy for lawlessness in a forceful statement on Friday. He also promised that a thorough examination of the team’s operations, recruitment, and structure would be carried out in order to restore professionalism, justice, and respect for human dignity.
Governor Okpebholo, who was clearly shocked by the incident, expressed his profound sadness at the child’s passing and called it “devastating and unbearable.” He assured the bereaved family that justice will be done and offered his sincere sympathies.
Edo State has been rocked by this most recent episode, which has brought up serious concerns about the behavior of security forces supported by the government and the cost of unbridled power on the streets.
