FRSC prosecutes offenders, intercepts overloaded vehicle carrying 15 persons, 8 motorcycles

By Onu Okorie

Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC has intensified its crackdown on dangerous traffic practices, with intelligence-driven operations and Mobile Court interventions in Abia State and the Federal Capital Territory leading to the prosecution of offenders and the interception of a heavily overloaded vehicle conveying 15 persons and eight motorcycles under hazardous conditions.
The Corps said the enforcement operations demonstrated its increasing reliance on intelligence, professional vigilance and collaboration with other security agencies to detect and prevent activities capable of endangering road users.
In Abia State, a Mobile Court presided over by His Worship, C. E. Nwankpa, sentenced a commercial driver, Mr. Azubuike Dominic, to one month imprisonment at Afara Correctional Centre.
Dominic was apprehended while driving a Toyota Hiace commercial vehicle, registration number GWB 298 XY, without a valid driver’s licence.
The FRSC said the driver subsequently absconded with an arresting Marshal while being escorted to court. He was later reapprehended several kilometres away following a coordinated pursuit involving FRSC personnel and the military.
The Corps said the incident underscored its determination to ensure that enforcement actions are not frustrated by attempts to evade lawful arrest or judicial proceedings.
In a separate operation in Nyanya, FCT, FRSC personnel intercepted a Mitsubishi Canter, registration number GDD 815 ZP, after a Marshal became suspicious of the vehicle’s sealed trampoline.
Upon inspection, the officers discovered 15 persons and eight motorcycles dangerously concealed beneath the covering and among other goods.
The FRSC said the arrangement constituted a serious violation of road safety regulations and posed grave risks to the occupants and other road users.
The driver, identified as Mr. Umar Muhammadu, was arrested after he allegedly attempted to induce an FRSC Marshal with N500. He was also unable to produce a valid driver’s licence.
The vehicle and its occupants were subsequently handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Mararaba, CSP M. Daniel, for further investigation and prosecution, following the directive of the Sector Commander, RS7.1 FCT, CC Tijjani Iliyasu.
The FRSC said the two incidents reflected a shift from routine traffic interception to intelligence-led and evidence-based enforcement, supported by professional observation, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures and inter-agency cooperation.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, mni, has consistently directed personnel to remain vigilant, professional and uncompromising in carrying out their statutory responsibilities while strengthening collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies.
The Corps warned motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators, against evading enforcement, concealing passengers or motorcycles, overloading vehicles, driving without valid licences or attempting to induce enforcement personnel.
It said such violations would attract appropriate sanctions under the law.
The FRSC assured Nigerians that it would continue to deploy intelligence, professional enforcement, Mobile Courts and strategic collaboration with other agencies to protect road users and improve safety on the nation’s highways.
The Corps stressed that there would be no hiding place for reckless and dangerous driving as it pursues its mandate of making Nigerian roads safer.