The Kwara sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Muftau Irekeola, has warned motorists and passengers against obstructing or assaulting officers on duty.
Mr Irekeola gave the warning on Wednesday in llorin while speaking with journalists and said some corp personnel were assaulted at Oloru, Moro Local Government Area in Kwara.
According to the sector commander, such an act is barbaric, unwarranted and condemnable in all its entirety.
“We will not take it lightly with anybody that disturbs or stops any of our officers from performing their official duty on the road,” he said.
The FRSC boss recalled the case of a private driver, Samson Ayade, who obstructed some officers from performing their official duty on the road.
“On October 20, a patrol team from Olooru arrested a man, Hammed Adisa, riding a motorcycle, plate number LRN905WV, around 5:10 p.m., for not wearing a helmet and impounded his motorcycle.
“Around 5:35 p.m., the patrol team was returning to Shao, where they normally keep impounded motorcycles and was attacked by the man.
“Adisa got on another motorcycle and double-crossed the patrol vehicle around the Shao market area, stripped himself naked and jumped in front of them, shouting that they should hit him,” he said.
Mr Irekeola further said the patrol vehicle stopped to avoid hitting the motorcyclist, and the man immediately jumped on top of the bonnet, shouting and calling on passers-by.
He said Mr Ayade, who was driving a Toyota Sienna, plate number KJA 672 JD, interfered and instigated passers-by to remove the motorcycle from the patrol team and gave it to the motorcyclist, who rode it away.
“One of the officers in the patrol team was beaten in the process of forcefully releasing the motorcycle to the rider, and Ayade left the scene.
“The case was immediately reported to the police station in Shao, and Ayade was caught and arrested along Shao-Malete Road. Later, the case was transferred to Police Headquarters, Ilorin, on Monday.
“Ayade was charged to a state magistrate court on October 22, on six count charges, thereafter remanded in Mandala Correctional Center for one week, until he was granted bail on October 29,” Mr Irekeola said.
The sector commander stressed that road safety activities belonged to everyone, saying their job on the road was not to intimidate the public but to save lives.
He called on the public to cooperate with the corps while discharging their official duty to reduce road accidents and save lives.
(NAN)