The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has directed an investigation and prosecution of a female motorist captured in a viral video assaulting an on-duty officer.
The video, which is about 1 minute and 25 seconds long, shows the woman physically attacking the FRSC official as he deflated one of her car’s tyres at a unit office.
She was seen grabbing the officer’s uniform while other FRSC personnel at the scene urged restraint.
“Don’t touch her, just bear it,” one official was heard saying, while another, believed to be a senior officer, said, “You are beating my personnel in my office!” He then ordered, “Deflate all the tyres,” as the altercation continued.
In response to the incident, the Assistant Corps Marshal and Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, issued a statement detailing the events that led to the assault.
According to him, the incident occurred on November 7, 2024, along the Oko-Ado stretch of the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos.
The statement partly read, “Highly disturbed by the spate of assault on personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps who are legitimately carrying out their statutory responsibilities, the Corps Marshal has ordered an in-depth investigation into the latest assault and immediate prosecution of a motorist who repeatedly assaulted FRSC personnel.
“The Corps Marshal also hailed the Unit Commander, Chief Route Commander AM Usman and the entire staff of the Command for exhibiting a high level of professionalism and civility amidst the provocative actions of the motorist, saying that their action represents the ideals of the Corps.
“The report of the assault case which was recorded on 7 November, 2024 along OKO-ADO Lekki Epe expressway within the Lekki Unit Command general operations area, in Lagos State; revealed that at about 1554hrs, the patrol team flagged a Toyota Corolla with vehicle Registration number EPE690HH for seatbelt violation.
“At the request of the vehicle papers, it was discovered that the papers had expired since December 2022 which prompted the impoundment of the vehicle.
“While the driver of the vehicle who contravened the law did not resist arrest, a particular lady who happened to be a passenger in the same vehicle became provocative, verbally assaulted the arresting Marshal and threatened to prosecute them for doing their job.
“As if her threat was not enough, the lady went further to create a scene so as to conjure undeserving sympathy from other road users.
“When all of her antics did not play out, she opted on physical assault as could be seen in the attached video.
“She assaulted the personnel all the way from the point of arrest and refused to put an end to it even when the vehicle was finally impounded in the Lekki Command.
“When all efforts to bring her to calmness did not yield desired results, the Unit Commander engaged the Divisional Police Officer, Ajah Police Station who swiftly deployed a team of men to arrest the lady and the driver for further investigation.
“Meanwhile the Corps Marshal has admonished the motoring public to always channel their grievance through proper administrative processes or take appropriate legal actions rather than taking laws into their hands.
“The Corps Marshal is also optimistic that Justice will not only be served, but done speedily so as to serve as deterrent to other violent road users.”
The FRSC reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for assaults on its personnel and vowed to pursue justice in this case.