The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged the public to disregard an old viral video circulating on social media showing a tricycle rider, unclad, violently confronting its operatives in Benin, Edo State.
Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM), Corps Public Education Officer, (CPEO), said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ogungbemide said the video, which resurfaced recently, was not a new development but an incident that occurred on July 16, 2020 along the Benin–Sapele Road, and had since been resolved both legally and administratively.
He said that the recirculation of the video was a calculated attempt by mischievous handlers to attract traffic to their social media pages.
This, he said, was aimed to misinform the public and stir unnecessary emotions over a matter long concluded.
According to him, the tricycle rider, identified as Mr. Adeshine Adeyemo, was arraigned in court with case file number MEV/117C/2020 before His Worship, Magistrate F. Ojehumen of the Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court, Benin City.
Ogungbemide said that Adeyemo was found guilty on Jan. 11, 2021, and sentenced to three months imprisonment for malicious damage and breach of public peace.
He added that an internal disciplinary panel was also instituted to investigate the conduct of the personnel involved in the incident as captured in the viral video.
“After due process, the seven-man patrol team was tried and sanctioned with reduction in rank for unprofessional and unethical behaviour during the encounter.
“They were also redeployed from their previous command in line with the Corps’ zero tolerance posture against incivility and misconduct,” he said.
Ogungbemide reiterated that while the FRSC would not condone attacks or molestation of its operatives and installations, it also would not spare any personnel found guilty of professional misconduct.
He emphasised that the re-emergence of the video at this time might create unnecessary panic and mislead unsuspecting members of the public into believing it was recent.
“The FRSC therefore urges the general public to disregard the video as an old story, already addressed comprehensively through judicial conviction of the offender and disciplinary sanctions on the staff involved,” he said.
Ogungbemide reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to ensuring safer roads and a more civil relationship between its operatives and the motoring public.
He appealed to citizens to cooperate with law enforcement officers, assuring that the FRSC would continue to uphold professionalism, discipline and respect for human dignity in carrying out its statutory duties.