By Dada Ahmed
The Federal government has been called upon to train personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC, in the act of self defence and equip them to guard them against kidnappers, armed robbers and jungle justice, in the process of carrying out their lawful duty for the safety of the motorists in the country.
The National Secretary, Road Users Development Network of Nigeria (RUDN), Mr Emmanuel Oche, made the call in a telephone interview with the correspondent of The Reporters, an online publication in Abuja on Saturday.
Oche, who cited the recent killing of two officers of the corps and abduction of their colleagues in Nasarawa state, described the fate of the officers as not only gruesome but left very much to be desired.
The national secretary of the NGO, who expressed the sympathy to the families of the deceased and other victims, also called on the government to intensify efforts in the crusade against kidnappers and other criminals making life unbearable for members of the public, especially the motorists.
He noted that kidnappers and armed robbers usually take advantage of the deplorable condition of roads to waylay motorists, pointing out repairing roads would be one of the surest ways of arresting crime along highways in the country.
“When our roads are in motorable condition, kidnappers and army robbers will not have the opportunity to stop drivers, not to even force the passengers to disembark and lead them into the bush for one ransom or the other or even kill them in extreme cases.
“It is because drivers often slow down in an attempt to avoid the ubiquitous potholes on road that they play into hands of kidnappers and armed robbers,”he said.
According to him,the NGO, which was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) about five years ago, is established to complement government’s efforts in making traffic pleasurable for the motorists,among others.
He added that the members of the organization had been carrying out filling of potholes, especially along the ever busy Nyanya/ Mararaba road in the FCT, in fulfilment of the aims and objectives of RUDN.
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