FRSC: Driver Jailed for Hiding 15 Passengers, Eight Motorcycles Under Truck Cover
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has intensified its crackdown on dangerous traffic violations following the arrest and prosecution of motorists involved in separate incidents in Abia State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In one of the operations, a Mobile Court sitting in Abia State sentenced a commercial driver, Mr Azubuike Dominic, to one month imprisonment after he was convicted of driving without a valid licence and subsequently absconding with an FRSC marshal while being escorted to court.
Dominic was arrested while driving a Toyota Hiace commercial vehicle with registration number GWB 298 XY. According to the FRSC, he later escaped with the arresting marshal but was reapprehended several kilometres away following a coordinated pursuit involving FRSC personnel and military personnel.
He was subsequently arraigned before the Mobile Court presided over by His Worship C. E. Nwankpa and sentenced to one month at the Afara Correctional Centre.
The FRSC said the incident demonstrated its determination to ensure that motorists could not frustrate lawful enforcement actions or evade judicial proceedings.
In a separate operation in Nyanya, FCT, FRSC personnel intercepted a Mitsubishi Canter truck with registration number GDD 815 ZP after marshals became suspicious of its sealed trampoline.
A subsequent inspection uncovered 15 passengers and eight motorcycles concealed beneath the covering and among other goods being transported by the vehicle.
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The Corps described the discovery as a serious violation of road safety regulations, warning that transporting passengers and motorcycles in such hazardous conditions posed grave risks to the occupants and other road users.
The driver, identified as 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, in accordance with the directive of the Sector Commander, RS7.1 FCT, CC Tijjani Iliyasu.
The FRSC said the two incidents reflected a shift from routine road traffic enforcement towards intelligence-led, evidence-based and technology-conscious operations aimed at detecting concealed violations and preventing avoidable road crashes.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, mni, has consistently directed personnel to remain vigilant, professional and uncompromising in enforcing traffic laws, while strengthening collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies.
The FRSC 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 stressed that offenders would face appropriate sanctions under the law.
The Corps further assured the public that it would continue to combine intelligence gathering, professional enforcement, Mobile Court proceedings and inter-agency collaboration to protect road users and improve safety on Nigerian roads.
The FRSC reiterated that there would be no hiding place for motorists whose actions endanger the lives of passengers and other road users.
By PRNigeria
