By Obiejesi Kingsley

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has suspended the Rivers State sector commander of the corps, Ayodele Kumapayi, for cutting female officers’ hair with scissors.

The incident reportedly took place during a routine parade exercise on Monday and photos of it quickly went viral on social media.

According to reports, Kumampayi accused the female FRSC personnel of wearing long hairstyles.

FRSC spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, told journalists on Tuesday morning that the sector commander has been suspended alongside the other officers who allegedly participated in the act.

Kazeem said that the immediate suspension was ordered by the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, pending investigation into the incident.

However, a staff of the FRSC who pleaded anonymity told this reporter that the regulations of the FRSC prohibit female staff from wearing hairdos that touch the collar of their uniforms.

“If you pack your hair well so that it doesn’t touch your collar, you don’t have any problem. But if your hair touches your collar, that’s where you have a problem.”

When asked what offence it constitutes she said: “It is misconduct and it is a major entry.”

“A major entry could attract a fine of about N5000 which would be deducted from the defaulter’s monthly salary.

“But three major entries within a calendar year leads to termination of appointment,” she said.

The hairs of the ladies in the pictures that went viral on social media clearly appeared to be touching the collars of their uniforms.

But perhaps what led to the suspension of the Rivers State FRSC sector commander, Kumapayi, is that he took the laws into his own hands and did not adhere to the regulations of the commission.