THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has drawn the battle line with recalcitrant traffic law violators with the inauguration of a special patrol team, code-named ‘Cobra Squad’ in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Spokesman of the corps, Mr Bisi Kazeem said this becomes imperative so as to ensure effectiveness of the nationwide enforcement of mental stability and psychological examination of traffic offenders by the FRSC.
He noted that the exercise would focus on life threatening violations such as the use of phones while driving, route violation, traffic light violation, dangerous driving and overloading.
Kazeem, disclosed that the corps marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, inaugurated the squad along with 10 well-equipped patrol motorcycles, five vans and an ambulance dedicated to the exercise in the FCT.
Oyeyemi said he would personally lead the FCT squad, adding that similar teams and logistics would be deployed subsequently at the zonal level before the end of July.
He explained that the special patrol would be outside the normal patrol activities of the corps in the FCT and other parts of the country.
“Let me sound a note of warning to all road users: the FRSC will not tolerate any form of assault on its personnel. I will get them arrested and with the help of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), criminal cases will be filed against them. It is not a threat, I have started that already,’’ he said.
The corps marshal said that flashpoint points of traffic violations in the territory would be effectively manned by FRSC officials backed by ambulances.
Oyeyemi, who noted that his announcement of the mental stability test had been misinterpreted by a section of the public, said the corps would remain focused in the discharge of its responsibilities.
He said the corps must not allow few lawless drivers to endanger the lives of other road users, urging all hands to be on deck in the FRSC to restore sanity to the nation’s highways.