The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
today commenced the arrest of traffic offenders engaging in the use of phones while driving in the FCT.
The agency on Friday drew the battle line with recalcitrant traffic law violators with the inauguration of a special patrol team code named Cobra Squad in the FCT.
The agency on Friday drew the battle line with recalcitrant traffic law violators with the inauguration of a special patrol team code named Cobra Squad in the FCT.
According to Bisi Kazeem, Corps
Public Education Officer , FRSC, the move came a day before the planned
nationwide enforcement of mental stability/psychological examination of traffic
offenders by the Corps.
The exercise will focus on life
threatening violations such as use of phone while driving, route violation,
traffic light violation, dangerous driving and overloading.
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 Corps will not tolerate any form of assault on its
personnel.
``With the support of the Federal
Ministry of Justice if need be, I will press for maximum punishment of culprits
and ensure that I send them to jail.
``FRSC officials are law enforcement
agents funded by the government to ensure the safety of Nigerians on the road,
but road users especially passengers are fund of assaulting them.
``I will get them arrested and with
the help of the Inspector-General of Police, 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.
``I have never said the issue of
psychiatric test or any form, I am very focused on what I am doing, I will take
them (offenders) to the appropriate hospital and they will run a mental and
psychological evaluation to confirm they are fit for driving.
``This is one of the criteria before
you obtain licence. I just want to reconfirm the mental and psychological state
of offenders before the appropriate sanctions are meted out on them.
``The issue of fine does not come
in, we need a firm approach to this, and the National Assembly has said it that
we should improve on our enforcement.
``The Executive has also said it and
we are getting the full backing of the Judiciary. So, this is a note of warning
to reckless drivers.’’
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.
He solicited the cooperation and
support of members of the public, private and commercial drivers and other road
users.
Oyeyemi urged members of the public
to make use of the FRSC emergency in reporting traffic law violators.
Those arrested today as seen in the pictures according to Mr Bisi Kazeem will be subjected to psychiatric tests in designated hospitals
Those arrested today as seen in the pictures according to Mr Bisi Kazeem will be subjected to psychiatric tests in designated hospitals
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