By Emeka Nwokocha
Following the crushing of a fourteen years old boy, Wisdom Chukwudi to death by a police officer and driver of a Police Hilux van, on Monday 16 June, 2025, along Okuokoko expressway, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta state, a courageous rights defender, Activist Kelvin Ejumudo has called on the Bayelsa State Police Command to fish out the driver to face the law, saying “Any attempt to compromise the law will be strongly resisted.”
Activist Ejumudo who doubles as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Human Rights, made the call recently while speaking to journalists about the tragic accident.
He expressed worry, saying “The police have neither visited the bereaved mother of the boy, Jennifer Otono nor taken any positive action in line with the laws to ensure the deceased Wisdom Chukwudi gets justice.
Lamenting the development, Activist Ejumudo bitterly said, “Master Wisdom Chukwudi was hit by Police Hilux Van on a convoy to Bayelsa State, driven by a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), on Monday 16th June 2025, along the Effurun-Ughelli expressway, Okuokokor and he died on the spot.
“The mother of the deceased – a single parent, Jennifer Otono, is seriously grieving the sudden and tragic death of her son caused by a reckless police driver, a CSP attached to Bayelsa State Police Command who was on a convoy to Bayelsa State when he knocked down the boy.”
Activist Ejumudo stated that Jennifer Otono is seriously devastated on hearing the shattering news of the sudden death of her only son adding that her sorrow is now worsen by the lack of empathy on the part of the Police.”
He said, “The police only visited the scene of the accident just to tow the crashed Hilux van to a nearby police station without showing concern to the mother of the deceased.”
He reiterated, “I am using this medium to call on the Nigeria Police Force, Bayelsa State Command to fish out the CSP that drove the vehicle that knocked down Master Wisdom Chukwudi.”
He said, “We must place value on human life in this country and not the other way round,” threatening that “The human rights community will not hesitate to explore all legal and legitimate means to seek justice for late Wisdom Chukwudi if the said Police officer is not fished out within seven days and made to face justice.”
It will be recalled that reckless driving being exhibited by convoys with utter disregard for safety are endangering the lives of other road users.
This has regularly attracted public outcry as innocent citizens have severally been knocked down and killed.
But still, the Nigerian government is nonchalant about this undignifying behaviour that poses threat to public wellbeing.
