BENIN CITY- Economic and social activities along the Benin-Ugbowo express road were grounded for hours when some youths protested the death of a six-year-old school girl swept away by flood as she accidentally stepped into the nine feet deep open gutter beside the federal government-own road in Benin City, last Monday.
The protesting youths barricaded the busy road with heavy objects and burning condemned tyres by Uselu Shell and Five junctions as drivers and passengers groaned for hours they were were forced to a halt.
Soldiers and policemen deployed to disperse the protesters and clear the road of barricades watched helplessly for hours as the youths insisted that the state governor Mr Godwin Obaseki should visit and address them on when the open nine feet gutter will be covered to forestall reoccurrence.
The unrest that started about 10am was however relaxed about 1:22pm when the Egor local government council boss, Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia arrived the scene with some of principal officers in the council.
She appealed to the protesting youths to remain calm as she was there to represent the state governor.
Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia led her entourage to house 22, Iyiesigie Street, Off Oro Street, Off TV road, Benin City residence of deceased family to commisurate with them.
Though the victim’s family was not at home, the Egor council boss however interfaced with the landlord Pa Omoruyi Idiaghe.
She expressed the governor’s heartfelt condolences and explained government recent efforts to desilt the said drainage.
Though she did not disclose whether efforts will be made to recover the missing body of the child, Hon. Ogbemudia however assured that the spot where the flood probably swept the child into the underground drainage connecting that of five junctions which empty themselves into a moat beside Egbosa grammar school, would be protected.
“Covering the drainage has a lot of disadvantages. Some residents will turn it their dustbin and to desilt will be difficult”. She stated.
Our reporter observed that iron bar constructed to block objects floating from the open gutter from entry the underground drainage had been destroyed as the one on the other side of the road remained intact.
Pa Omoruyi Idiaghe who described his bereaved tenants as peaceful and easy going family said his entire house is in pain as a result of the unfortunate incident.
The tragedy was said to have occurred along the express road by Omozogbe Street junction, Uselu, Benin City, about 2:55 pm.
It was learnt that the little girl, Favour Niyi Okparetin from Osun State whose corpse remained missing at press time yesterday, met her death as she was returning from school in company of two of her siblings led by their mother under a heavy down pore that flooded the road, last Monday.
It will be recalled that similar incident is rampant on that road since its expansion over four years ago.
Attempts to obtain comments from the Public Relations Officer for Edo State Police Command DSP Chidi Nwabuzor failed.
