Why we want our officers to bear arms – FRSC Corps Marshal

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, says the corps wants to limb its officials due to the fact that of the expanding fig of casualties connected the roads during operations.

Mr Mohammed stated this successful an interrogation with PREMIUM TIMES.

There is presently a measure earlier the National Assembly seeking the amendment of the Federal Road Safety Commission Act of 2007 to empower its officers to carnivore arms.

Sponsored by Abiodun Adesida (APC, Ondo) and Olaide Muhammad (APC, Oyo), the measure has scaled 2nd speechmaking successful the House of Representatives.

Critics opposed to arming FRSC operatives accidental it is not indispensable arsenic the bureau tin spouse with different arm-wielding agencies similar the constabulary for important operations.

Mr Mohammed, however, insists it is necessary.

He explained that the quest to carnivore arms has go indispensable due to the fact that the corps has mislaid implicit 200 unit since its inception arsenic immoderate motorists intentionally ran down its operatives. He said nary of the motorists has been apprehended.

He said the corps wants to limb its unit to support the lives of its officers connected the roads crossed the country.

“As of past year, I deliberation determination were astir 200 deaths – unit who were knocked down, and implicit 240 from inception. And galore were mayhem, portion the perpetrators escaped,” helium said.

While acknowledging the concerns of the nationalist regarding FRSC operatives utilizing firearms connected unarmed Nigerians, Mr Mohammed said not each the unit of the corps are to beryllium equipped if the measure earlier the national legislature is passed.

He explained that those who volition beryllium equipped volition beryllium allowed to usage them erstwhile they person distress calls from their colleagues.

He stated that the corps is intensely preparing for this by ensuring that those to beryllium equipped are adequately trained.

“It’s lone a detachment, a squad, well-trained squad, that tin clasp an limb and beryllium intervening successful lawsuit determination are issues connected the roadworthy for america to beryllium capable to…..

“In fact, if you recollect, immoderate years back, we adjacent had the armoury, we did the training, astir of our unit did the grooming successful Jaji. I did my ain successful Keffi. Some did successful Lagos, immoderate did successful Jos, and Enugu. And past they adjacent bought the arms, and past we built an armoury successful Gwagwalada. We besides employed the work of a retired service colonel.

“We did that, reasoning that we should beryllium capable to commencement utilizing squads that tin intervene if determination are issues. Those connected patrol tin telephone to say, ‘Please, we are successful danger, travel and rescue us,’ oregon ‘Come and enactment us.’ This is due to the fact that we cannot let everybody to clasp arms,” helium said.

Speaking further connected the power of the usage of arms, Mr Mohammed said, “Because however tin a FRSC marshal halt an articulated vehicle, a tanker, a trailer, particularly the ones that are doing mixed loading? You spot trucks that person animals, and past possibly adjacent 100 passengers connected top. How bash you halt those without being armed? And past you besides request to crook and defend, due to the fact that you person to usage the science of the idiosyncratic who is utilizing an arm.

“You don’t conscionable springiness anybody an limb to beryllium connected the road. And that’s wherefore I deliberation the nationalist is truly not comfy with FRSC having to clasp arms. So we’re besides careful, and that’s wherefore I accidental it’s not everyone who’s going to clasp an arm.

“Some would accidental today, I privation to conscionable termination an FRSC officer. But past we’re besides looking astatine our ain mode of operation. That&r...