May Day Fracas: CRPP Faults Edo Govt For Using Bouncers, Blames Okpebholo For Failure To Protect Children

May Day Fracas: CRPP  Faults Edo Govt For Using Bouncers, Blames Okpebholo For Failure To Protect Children 

...Asks State Govt To Foots  Hospital Bills Of Victims

Iduozee Efe Paul, Benin 

The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has Lampooned on the Edo state government for the use of bouncers over the unfortunate incident that disrupted the Children’s Day celebration at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo state.

This follows a statement signed by its National Chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, CRPP accused the Okpebholo administration of failing to guarantee the safety of school children at a major state-organised event.

It was discovered that the programme was organized by the Edo State Ministry of Education in

commemoration of the Children's Day.

Dr. Isibor said, ",Reports had it that some male students of a government secondary school that is notorious for cultism, invaded the venue and allegedly attempted to force themselves on female students, which allegedly triggered the use of pepper spray by Bouncers. 

 

"Sadly, over 50 students (mostly female) were seriously injured and collapsed in a stampede resulting from the pandemonium. 

"Besides, unconfirmed reports had it that two (2) students lost their lives. Videos and pictures of the sad event have since gone viral on the internet, not minding the denial of the government in power. 

"This tragedy has again exposed Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government as very weak and lacking in crowd control mechanism, and its failure to protect the children, especially the girl-child. 

"It further exposed the government that prides itself as children and youth-friendly as mere smoke screen."

The coalition alleged that during the sad incident two  students lost their lives. He queried that why should government house security personnel allegedly authorize the use of tear gases and pepper sprays to disperse unruly crowds.

"The successful invitation on of the stadium by suspected cultists also belied Okpebholo's claim to having totally obliterated cultism in the state.

" It is now obvious that he has much work to do on security in the state as cultism and other criminal activities still fester," he stressed.

Dr. Samson Isibor said why should Edo state government use non state actors such as Bouncers operated by private companies and are not trained for large crowd control to take control of a ceremony of such magnitude? 

  "Why should Government House security personnel allegedly authorize the use of tear gases and pepper sprays to disperse unruly crowds that resorted in the pandemonium and the avoidable trampling of innocent students who tried to escape from the stadium," he buttressed.

CRPP equally demands an unreserved apology from Governor Monday Okpebholo and his government to Edo children and their parents over this avoidable calamity perpetrated by incompetent State and non-state actors.

CRPP demands that the state government should foots the hospital bills of the victims and also give them adequate compensations commensurate to their respective losses. 

In his defence, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, said the Edo State government has already authorised investigations into the incident while the bouncer involved is presently being interrogated by the Police to ascertain the immediate or remote cause of the incident.