By Muhammad Abdullahi
There was an uproar Tuesday morning at Kubwa-Dutse Road, otherwise known as Outer Northern Expressway, when a junior Naval officer attacked and assaulted the Area Commander of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), also known as Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO).
Trouble was said to have started when a Naval officer, identified by his name tag as A.A Yusuf , disregarded traffic rules, entered the wrong lane and was driving against traffic.
It was also said that the Area Commander, Segun Atanda who was on duty directing traffic, on sighting the lawless Naval officer, quickly mobilised and blocked him with DRTS duty vehicle.
Apparently angered that his 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 , also forcefully retrieved the number plate of his car that was already siezed and sped off from the scene.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman, FCT Ministerial Traffic Management Team, Ikharo Attah, who condemned the assault, said the action of the Naval officer was barbaric, as it was uncivilized.
While he decried the rate of assault and disobedience by uniformed personnels to law enforcement officers in the line of duty, he noted that it was time such reckless behaviour was checked by government before it further destroys the country’s image.
Attah lamented that, ” the incessant attacks and assaults on traffic officers by uniformed men is very disturbing. At the Nyanya road, Kubwa road and Dutse Alhaji stretch, traffic officers are daily being assaulted by uniformed men”
He wandered why, “some uniformed 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.”
Attah also pointed out that “uniformed men must know that ‘ esiprit 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” .