THE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has condemned the unprovoked attacks and molestation of operatives of the Corps on the highways vowing to prosecute all those involved.
Oyeyemi, was reacting to the recent shooting of two FRSC staff and the detention of another in a police facility in Abia State, saying “enough is enough”.
Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem in a statement on Tuesday quoted the Corps Marshal as lamenting that, “Many road users are abusing the civility of the unarmed personnel that are trained to be cautious while discharging their legitimate duties.”
He said 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,” he said.
The Corps Marshal said the FRSC remains the nation’s lead agency on road traffic administration and safety management empowered to arrest and prosecute 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,” he said.
The Corps Marshal said that 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.
Meanwhile, the Corps Marshal has assured all staff that the Corps would not leave any stone unturned to prosecute all those involved in the recent spate of attacks.
He also said additional steps were being taken to further protect staff performing their legitimate duties and asked them to continue to discharge their duties without fear or ill-will.
“The hall mark of gallant operatives is never to be deterred by negative influences but focused in the commitment to service for the sake of posterity,” Oyeyemi added.
He appealed to all sister security operatives and the general public to always come to the aid of the marshals when they are under threat.
“If the laws are not strictly enforced,” he said, “road safety becomes the first casualty. Nobody knows the next victim.”
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