THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has directed the immediate recall of the patrol team that was captured in a viral video assaulting a civilian within Egbeda Unit Command in Ogun State.
FRSC spokesman Bisi Kazeem said Corps Marshall Dauda Biu recalled the team on the premise that the officers behaved in a ‘manner, tantamount to incivility’ against a member of the public.
One of the patrol team officers, with the name tag M.J Oni was captured on video hitting a motorist who was recording the road safety men for allegedly damaging his car’s windscreen.
The victim, in the video was heard saying, “This is the man that broke the windscreen.” He was also heard shouting: “You slapped me.”
The video which went viral on Tuesday, May 16, led to angry reactions from Nigerians on social media, particularly on Twitter.
Many users who reacted under the tweet accused the FRSC of always abusing and harassing citizens, and demanded that the officer in the viral video be punished and prosecuted for his action.
Meanwhile, reacting to the viral video on Wednesday, May 17, the Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem said the patrol team behaved in a manner that is contrary to standard operating procedures.
He said the Corps Marshal has directed the commencement of investigation into the incident.
“The provocative act as captured on camera is a complete contravention of the Federal Road Safety Corps’ standard operating procedures for officers on patrol operations.
“In that regard, the Corps Marshal has directed the Corps Intelligence Office as well as the Corps Provost Office to commence with immediate effect, a full and comprehensive investigation into the entire circumstances that propelled the officer into the uncivil act and make necessary recommendations for swift administrative action.”
According to him, the FRSC is an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certified organisation that does not condone indiscipline or compromise standards when it comes to rendering service to the public.
He assured that all necessary disciplinary actions recommended will be administered appropriately.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M