The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has reacted to a video trending on social media, about a road traffic accident that occurred in Ibadan recently.
The accident was reported to have killed a staff of the Corps and one other person, with another staff injured.
A statement by the Corps Public Education Officer of the FRSC, Corps Commander Bisi Kazeem, made available to Newsdiaryonline on Sunday, gave the true account of the incident.
“The attention of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has been drawn to a trending video of an unfortunate road traffic crash that occurred in Ibadan recently, which claimed the lives of a staff of the Corps, Oluyole Unit Command in Ibadan, Oyo state and one (1) other person
“You will recall that the Corps Marshal , Dr Boboye Oyeyemi had ordered the Oyo State Sector Commander of FRSC to conduct an immediate investigation into the unfortunate incident.
“He also directed the Corps Intelligence Officer to carry out full, discreet and independent investigation into the culpable cause(s) of the incident,” the statement read.
Kazeem added that the report of the incident, which was lodged with the Nigerian Police for investigation was now at its disposal.
“At about midday of Wednesday, 6/11/19 around 1100HRS a team of FRSC Personnel assigned to monitor and control traffic, were approached by a truck driver who intended to make an enquiry from one of the members of the team.
“In the course of the inquiry, a Mercedes Benz ran into the patrol vehicle and in the process, killed the Marshal attending to the driver of the truck and the other person making inquiry while discussing, with the other FRSC Official occupying the driver’s seat, who was also seriously affected by the crash and eventually had one of his legs amputated at the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
“Information gathered at the scene of the crash and from first responders (eye witnesses) as well as the Police revealed that contrary to some insinuations in the trending video, the FRSC Patrol vehicle was not in motion when the incident occurred.
“The seriously injured victim was rushed to the hospital for medical attention while the deceased were taken to the morgue
“It is also of importance to intimate the public that the alleged reckless driver has been charged to court.
“A magistrate court sitting at Iyagakun , Ibadan, Oyo state on Tuesday 13 November, 2019 subsequently remanded the suspect (driver of the Mercedes Benz vehicle) in prison custody till 8 February, 2020 when the case would be heard.
“The Magistrate who gave the accused some bail conditions, which include providing two sureties in the sum of N1 million each, who must be at least level 16 Officers, working in reputable organizations and who own landed property in the state.
“The accused having not met the bail conditions, was remanded in prison custody,” the report indicated.
FRSC called on the general public to disregard the trending insinuations that the personnel were in pursuit of any traffic offender.
“It is quite an unfortunate incident but a reality that the job of the Corps is very hazardous in nature.
“The Corps however pleads that the motoring public should be more cautious while on the highways and should drive defensively.”
