Delta State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Udeme Basset Eshiet, has said the team of operatives of the corps who were seen in a viral video fighting with a motorist will face disciplinary measures for misconduct.
This is coming after an incident happened on Saturday, January 20, 2024, where the Federal Road Safety Corps came under public scrutiny after a video surfaced online wherein the operatives of the corps were seen fighting with a driver and left a sour taste in the mouth of the motorist along Asaba-Benin expressway in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The Sector Commander while briefing Journalists at the State Secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Asaba on Friday, said the FRSC team who were on their normal patrol duty on that faithful day flagged down a Toyota Sienna vehicle that was coming from Owerri going to Lagos but the driver who tried to invade arrest, uses his vehicle to hit one of the operatives of the corps which prompted the driver of the FRSC to use the operational vehicle to block the road, an action which led to the incident that happened that day in the viral video.
He said when this happened, a lot of people tried to resolve the issue but the driver of the Toyota Sienna vehicle came down and started fighting the Marshalls, according to him, the driver brought out a screwdriver to deflect the tyres of the patrol vehicle of the FRSC.
Commander Eshiet added that the FRSC head of operations who was there when the incident happened, took the two parties to the office with the help of the officers of the Nigerian Police Force.
He said though the driver of the commercial vehicle was wounded, but a special Marshall who happened to be a member of the voluntary arm of the FRSC took the driver and paid for his treatment, adding that the case was settled amicably in the office with the manager of the commercial vehicle when he arrived.
Condemning the action of the operatives of the FRSC, the Sector Commander said the corps does not tolerate such kind of incident, stating that the FRSC does not send officers to block vehicles on the road to cause that kind of damage to people’s vehicles.
Eshiet further stated that the command reported the situation accordingly and the corps Marshall directed that the matter should be handled and reported back to him.
He also assures the motoring public that it is not the character of the FRSC to behave the way the operatives behaved, stating that the members of the team involved in the incident are already facing disciplinary action, and if found culpable, they will be punished accordingly.
He added that the sector commander had gotten in touch with the driver of the Sienna vehicle and decided to support his treatment so that the burden would not be much on him.
The FRSC Sector Commander advised the motoring public to always obey the operatives and slow down whenever they are flagged down, saying “It may not necessarily be booking. It is not all the time we book offenders because sometimes it might be for public enlightenment while sometimes you may be made to know some things that are faulty in your car.
He said “The Command has taken further steps that they will not be having serious patrol operations along the Asaba-Benin expressway till further notice. Also, we will not be having our patrol team at the Niger Bridge to carry out enforcement till further notice.
“These are the steps that we’ve taken to have time to reorient the operatives for them to operate in a manner that the motoring public will have trust in them so they can punish whosoever is committing and violating traffic offenses and regulations. These are the stand of the corps as far as this matter is concerned because the action of the operatives is not in the modus operandi of the FRSC.”
“We are the only high source certified organization in West Africa as far as paramilitary is concerned and occupying such a position is what makes us an elite corps that should do what is right. The corps will do whatever it takes in our capacity to ensure that such an act does not repeat itself.
Responding, the chairman of the Delta State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Churchill Oyovwe thanked the Sector Commander for the opportunity to brief the press on the incident and also to enlighten the public on what transpired between his operatives and the Toyota Sienna driver on that faithful day.
The Delta NUJ chairman said despite the fact that the video has gone viral, it is very important that the public hear from the FRSC as a way of balancing whatever that has gone out.
He said it is professionally right for the press to balance stories from both sides and to know the necessary steps put in place by the corps to instill discipline among its operatives and also to inform the public on what is expected from them by the corps at all times.
Comrade Oyovwe commended the Sector Commander for his presence and the steps he has taken to ensure peace between his command and the motoring public and also for taking care of the medical bills of the driver.
He added that it is the responsibility of the press as the fourth estate of the realm to always bring up issues for proper public enlightenment.
