Edo state Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) today burnt a small mock coffin which was allegedly abandoned at the sit-out centre around the King Square in Benin City.
It was gathered that the wooden mini coffin was wrapped with a white rope and black thread and kept under a flower hedge where it was discovered by a member of the group.
The discovery attracted people who thronged to the scene to gaze at the object from a distance.
Stunned, the PUWOV members resorted to an impromptu prayer session, cursing those who might be behind what they regarded as an abominable act.
Confirming the incident to newsmen in Benin, Kelly Okungbowa, vice chairman of Edo State PUWOV, described it “as one too many”.
He said one of his colleagues drew his attention to the object while returning from elsewhere in Benin.
Okungbowa described as grim the unintended hazards faced by PUWOV in the course of carrying out their work.
He, however, stated that the challenges faced by PUWOV will not stop them from clearing the environment of undesirable elements.
“Among us we have some people that God is using and we prayed against the casket, anointed it and then burned it,” he said.
“This is not the first time we are experiencing it. Sometime ago, about six months ago, when we came in the morning to do our usual morning prayer and fellowship, we met some things that were so funny, and we did our prayer.
“There is nothing we can do because we do not have power of our own. Anything we do, we put God first. The instrument we are using in this work, that makes us to succeed today, is that we call on God everyday.”