- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has ordered the investigation of an unidentified lady over assault on personnel.
The Corps Marshall, Shehu Muhammed, made the order in a statement issued on Monday by the Corps’ Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide.
As contained in the statement, the incident occured on the 7th of November, 2024 along OKO-ADO Lekki Epe express way within the Lekki Unit Command general operations area, in Lagos State.
FRSC recounted how the patrol team attached to the Command had flagged down a driver over violation of seat belt regulation.
The patrol team would discover that the vehicle papers have expired, leading to the vehicle impounded.
While the driver complied with the personnel, the lady became upset and latched at the FRSC officials.
As seen in a video attached to the statement, she would proceed to assault the FRSC officials at the Lekki Command’s office.
While commending the personnel for exhibiting high level of professionalism and civility amidst the provocative actions, Shehu warned the motoring public to put a halt to any form of assault on FRSC personnel as he reaffirmed that justice will take its cause against the lady.
The statement read in part; “Highly disturbed by the spate of assault on personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps who are legitimately carrying out their statutory responsibilities, the Corps Marshal has ordered in-depth investigation into the latest assault and immediate prosecution of a motorist who repeatedly assaulted FRSC personnel.
“The Corps Marshal also hailed the Unit Commander, Chief Route Commander AM Usman and the entire staff of the Command for exhibiting high level of professionalism and civility amidst the provocative actions of the motorist, saying that there action represents the ideals of the Corps.
“The report of the assault case which was recorded on 7 November, 2024 along OKO-ADO Lekki Epe express way within the Lekki Unit Command general operations area, in Lagos State; revealed that at about 1554hrs, the patrol team flagged a Toyota Corolla with vehicle Registration number EPE690HH for seatbelt violation.
“At request of the vehicle papers, it was discovered that the papers had expired since December 2022 which prompted the impoundment of the vehicle.
“While the driver of the vehicle who contravened the law did not resist arrest, a particular lady who happened to be a passenger in the same vehicle became provocative, verbally assaulted the arresting Marshal and threatened to prosecute them for doing their job.
“As if her threat was not enough, the lady went further to create a scene so as to conjure undeserving sympathy from other road users. When all of her antics did not play out, she opted on physical assault as could be seen in the attached video.
“She assaulted the personnel all the way from the point of arrest and refused to put an end to it even when the vehicle was finally impounded in the Lekki Command.
“When all efforts to bring her to calmness did not yield desired results, the Unit Commander engaged the Divisional Police Officer, Ajah Police Station who swiftly deployed a team of men to arrest the lady and the driver for further investigation.
“Meanwhile the Corps Marshal has admonished the motoring public to always channel their grievance through proper administrative processes or take appropriate legal actions rather than taking laws into their hands.
“He therefore warned the motoring public to put a halt to any form of assault on FRSC personnel henceforth.
“The Corps Marshal is also optimistic that Justice will not only be served, but done speedily so as to serve as deterrent to other violent road users.”