People on social media have been divided over the assault an unidentified lady melted on an unidentified staff of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), as a section are calling for her prosecution, while others felt that the unprofessionalism exhibited by the FRSC’s staff provoked the lady.
A statement signed by an Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education Officer FRSC Headquarters, Olusegun Ogungbemide, explained that FRSC headquarters received a report of an assault which was recorded on November 7, 2024, along Oko-Ado Lekki Epe expressway within the Lekki Unit Command general operations area, in Lagos State.
Ogungbemide explained that at about 1554hrs, the patrol team flagged a Toyota Corolla with vehicle Registration number EPE690HH for a seatbelt violation to later found out that the driver of the car had been driving with expired papers since December 2022 leading to a prompt impoundment of the vehicle.
According to the video uploaded on X, the situation was calm until one officer began to deflate the four tyres of the impounded car which had been brought into their office and this action provoked the other lady in the car.
In her attempt to stop the FRSC from deflating the tyres of the car already parked in the FRSC’s premises, she started boxing the officer, whose boss ordered not to hit the lady back.
“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”, the corps explained.
“She assaulted the personnel 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 the 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”, Ogungbemide added.
Vowing that the lady would be prosecuted, Ogungbemide warned the motoring public to put a halt to any form of assault on FRSC personnel henceforth.
Reacting, Dapsie on his X wrote, “You wrote this lengthy piece because, at last, you have something seemingly negative to talk about road users. Of course, you always choose to ignore the countless provocations and disgraceful acts of your badly trained men. That’s the same attitude your men display on their patrols. They only focus on roadworthy “clean” vehicles and ignore those rickety commercial vehicles that do not have papers. If you talk about a hypocritical organisation without value, it’s you guys. You choose what to act on and ignore the ones that showcase a total lack of discipline within your organisation.”
“I still maintain that Road Safety “officers” are the most aggressive of all law enforcement organisations in Nigeria. They remain silent when their “officers” commit outrageous acts and are quick to come and write an epistle here over this woman’s actions. My question again: when are you going to show us the disciplinary actions you take against your offending personnel? We have seen several videos and yet no such lengthy post from you. You are free to reply with insults. You do that because you are confronted with a mirror that shows you your hypocritical selves”, he added.
Another X user, Jussay corroborated the first speaker by saying, ” FRSC shame on you, your officials are unprofessional, how do you deflate someone’s tire when her car is already in your premises, after paying her fine she will have to pay #500 naira each to pump each tire which is way more expensive than what other vulcanizer charges outside of your premises. When you find someone guilty fine then and after they pay they don’t have to go through the stress of repumping their tires. Better warn all your officials not to do such nonsense.”
The Eye of the Caner wondered why the driver who did not assault the FRSC officer was arrested too saying, “Why was the driver whom you also claim did not harass anyone arrested alongside the lady? Does that sound fair to you? Nigerians sha…we are a very weird set of people..the lady was rightly arrested..but the driver??? Why???”
Office of the Nigerian citizens queried, “Why do FRSC officials start deflating your tyres when they feel you are in the wrong?” In the same direction, Malique queried the officer deflating their victim’s tyre when not dressed in FRSC uniform saying, “I’m curious, why is your officer dressed like that and wearing slippers? Is that the dress code you approve of?”
On the contrary, those in support of the FRSC action argued that the government should not hesitate to prosecute the lady as Arakunrin Olamijulo wrote, “It’s good she’s prosecuted for her uncharitable behaviour. Kudos But why is the FRSC just putting out a statement now? This occurred over a month ago.”
Dewdrop wrote, “Send her to jail fast and deport her back to her state of origin if not from this region. You don’t come to attack people on our land. We don’t accept violence on our land. Jail and deportation after serving her sentence.’
Describing the behaviour of the lady as shameful, Mfon Abia said, “This is a Shame. Her behaviour is bad and should be condemned. What was her purpose in displaying this gutter behaviour? She needs Anger Management class ASAP.”
For Osagie Iyoha, the officer has the right to defend himself while he was being assaulted stressing, “Next time don’t allow anyone assault your officers like this. That officer has the right to defend himself. If I were in his shoe, I will be the one in the police station while she will either be in the mortuary or in an emergency ward. Heaven knows I don’t have that tolerances.”
