The Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye
Oyeyemi, yesterday, condemned the unprovoked attacks and molestation of
operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on the highways, promising
to prosecute all those involved.
The Corps Marshal’s response came
on the heels of the recent shooting of two FRSC staff and the detention of
another in a police facility in Abia State.
Oyeyemi stated: “Many road users are abusing the civility of the unarmed personnel that are trained to be cautious while discharging their legitimate duties. In the past, many FRSC operatives had been abducted, killed, assaulted, ran over, threatened and shot. It is also disheartening that some of the attackers misinformed the unsuspecting public by releasing manipulated information to gain public sympathy. Attempts are often made to make the aggressors looked like the victims.”
Oyeyemi stated: “Many road users are abusing the civility of the unarmed personnel that are trained to be cautious while discharging their legitimate duties. In the past, many FRSC operatives had been abducted, killed, assaulted, ran over, threatened and shot. It is also disheartening that some of the attackers misinformed the unsuspecting public by releasing manipulated information to gain public sympathy. Attempts are often made to make the aggressors looked like the victims.”
According to Oyeyemi, the FRSC remains the nation’s lead agency on road traffic administration and safety management empowered to arrest and prosecutes erring motorists.
He added: “Section 10 (4) of the FRSC
(Establishment) Act, 2007 states categorically that members of the Corps shall
have powers to arrest and prosecute persons reasonably suspected to have
committed any traffic offence. Resistance based on ignorance of the law or
impunity can no longer be grounds to attack operatives carrying out their
lawful duties. We will definitely not abdicate our statutory responsibilities.”
Speaking on the Abia State case, where our men were shot, Oyeyemi said: “While we commend the Abia State Police Commissioner for swiftly directing the arrest and orderly room trial of the policemen who shot the FRSC staff at Aro Ngwa along the Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway last Saturday, the Corps is deeply saddened by the shooting. It is also greatly concerned that the two young men were abandoned with their gunshot wounds by the Policemen attached to the wife of the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly who shot them. Obviously, they were left to die at the scene by these Policemen who are also employees of government.”
The FRSC boss thanked the road users that assisted
the two injured and abandoned staff to the hospital, adding that he hoped the
two victims, who are still being treated, would get well soon.
Oyeyemi
recalled a case in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where an investigating
panel revealed that a patrol team flagged down a driver for routine checks.
When his car was to be impounded for running afoul of traffic laws, a female
staff was attached to the offender’s vehicle. She was instructed to follow the
offender to a nearby FRSC office for other necessary processes as contained in
the operational procedure to be effected; the driver sped away with the female
staff.
He said: “A patrol team, obviously concerned about
the motive of the fleeing driver, had to apply force to rescue the female
operative. The manipulated video which the suspect released afterwards only
told one side of the story. The Corps is determined to follow through with the
suspect’s prosecution as a deterrent.”
“The case in Jigawa was also pathetic. An FRSC patrol team was carrying out its legitimate duties along the Kiyawa – Dutse road in Jigawa State when a team of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) officials challenged the team for daring to check vehicles for excessive overloading and installation of the Speed Limiting Devices. They not only set the FRSC patrol vehicle ablaze but also badly damaged another vehicle. The FRSC office was also destroyed by the rampaging NURTW officials.”
The Jigawa incident resulted in fatality as one person was killed and several others injured. It will also be recalled that an FRSC personnel in Oluyole Unit Command, Oyo State was almost strangled to death by a driver who was accosted for contravening traffic laws. The Corps has turned down the plea for out-of-court settlement by the now sober attacker.
He further said: “All the attacks had been collated, well documented and would be brought to the attention of all the relevant arms of government for necessary action. Enough is enough.”
“The case in Jigawa was also pathetic. An FRSC patrol team was carrying out its legitimate duties along the Kiyawa – Dutse road in Jigawa State when a team of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) officials challenged the team for daring to check vehicles for excessive overloading and installation of the Speed Limiting Devices. They not only set the FRSC patrol vehicle ablaze but also badly damaged another vehicle. The FRSC office was also destroyed by the rampaging NURTW officials.”
The Jigawa incident resulted in fatality as one person was killed and several others injured. It will also be recalled that an FRSC personnel in Oluyole Unit Command, Oyo State was almost strangled to death by a driver who was accosted for contravening traffic laws. The Corps has turned down the plea for out-of-court settlement by the now sober attacker.
He further said: “All the attacks had been collated, well documented and would be brought to the attention of all the relevant arms of government for necessary action. Enough is enough.”
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