By Stanley Onyekwere
There was an uproar yesterday morning at Kubwa-Dutse Road, otherwise known as Outer Northern Expressway, when a junior Naval officer allegedly attacked and assaulted the Area Commander of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), otherwise known as Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO).
It was learnt that trouble ensued when a Naval officer, identified by his name tag as A.A Yusuf, was stopped and questioned for breaking traffic rules, by entering the wrong lane and was driving against traffic.
Expectedly, the Area Commander, Segun Atanda who was on duty directing traffic, at sighting the Naval officer, quickly mobilised and blocked him with DRTS duty vehicle.
Seemingly angered that his purported lawless act was challenged, the Naval officer allegedly alighted from his red Toyota Corolla car with Registration number Yobe AA 440-GJB, and attacked the traffic officers.
The Naval officer, after alleged assaulting and dragging the traffic officer around, and forcefully retrieved the number plate of his car that was already siezed and spade off from the scene.
However, reacting to the incident, the Chairman, FCT Ministerial Traffic Management Team, Ikharo Attah, who condemned the assault, described the action of the Naval officer as barbaric, as it was uncivilized.
Attah who decried the rate of assault and disobedience by uniformed personnels to law enforcement officers in the line of duty, noted that it was time such reckless behaviour was checked by government, before it further destroys the country’s image.
According to him, “The incessant attacks and assaults on traffic officers by uniform men is very disturbing. At the Nyanya road, Kubwa road and Dutse Alhaji stretch, traffic officers are daily being assaulted by uniform men.
“Some uniform men who are paid to protect and enforce the law are the ones breaking the law. What is most painful is the manner at which he dragged and assaulted the Area Commander who is enforcing the law like a child.
“Uniform men must know that ‘ esprit de corps’ is not a permission for lawlessness. Experience has shown that ones uniformed personnels drive against traffic they are easily followed by other civilians who are initially afraid to do so” .
