The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists and the general public against taking laws into their hands by assaulting its officials while on duty.
Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lagos Sector Command, Hyginus Omeje, who made this submission in a statement issued on Monday and made available to EnviroNews, spoke against the backdrop of assault on some Marshals of the Corps around the Jibowu/Yaba area in Lagos on Sunday 3rd July 2016.
In the course of their duty, the Marshals reportedly arrested the driver of a Toyota Camry with registration number MU 780 KJA for not using seat belt. The driver, who allegedly had no driver’s license on him, was to have his vehicle impounded when he reportedly veered off the route to his street where he mobilised area boys to beat up the Marshals, who consequently sustained various degrees of injuries.
In the statement that was endorsed by the Ag. Public Education Officer, Deputy Route Commander Olabisi Sonusi, Omeje debunked news making the rounds in the media that the Marshals caused a crash that led to fatalities while trying to stop the vehicle as there was no crash recorded during and after the arrest. Omeje stated that the team had successfully arrested the man and was taking him to the FRSC Office in Yaba before the offender zoomed off to his area where he knew people and mobilised miscreants against the Marshals. The offender reportedly capitalised on the confusion that ensued to run away with his vehicle.
The Sector Commander said the matter has been reported to the police and that the Command has declared the vehicle and the owner wanted. He warned against such occurrence in future, even as he promised to deal decisively with any motorist or group of persons “engaging in such unholy and unacceptable act no matter how highly placed the person or persons may be.”
Sonusi declared: “It is a criminal offence to assault a Marshal or an Officer in the course of his duty, hence the Command has not only resolved to bring this particular culprit to book, but has equally resolved to bring the full weight of the law against any traffic offender who dares to assault our Marshals in future. Motorists are hereby enjoined to always obey traffic rules and regulation to avoid being arrested.”
