Assault: Why I remained patient — FRSC officer

Assistant Road Marshal Habib Sayidi, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer seen being assaulted by a female passenger in a viral video, on Wednesday explained his patience during the incident.

Sayidi spoke in Lagos at an event organised by the FRSC, Lagos Sector Command, to commend him for exhibiting professionalism while being abused when carrying out his lawful duties.

Recall that on Dec. 7, a video showing a passenger assaulting an FRSC officer trended online.

The passenger, who was annoyed that her movement was being disturbed, was in a Toyota Corolla car that was allegedly impounded by FRSC officers for having vehicle papers that had expired since December 2022.

The passenger was seen in the video hitting the FRSC official, who did not respond.

Sayidi said that the patience he exhibited was through the upbringing he got from his parents.

“My father always tells me that in any situation I find myself, I should be patient, and that was why I did not respond when the woman was hitting me.

“I am so happy with the commendation letter I got from the sector commander,” he said.

Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, of the FRSC Lagos Sector Command, at the event, said that the command was presenting Sayidi a letter of commendation for his exemplary behaviour.

Hamzat said that the Chief Route Commander, Abdullahi Mohammad, Unit Commander, FRSC Lekki command, also received a commendation letter for ensuring order during the altercation.

He said that officers, as public servants, meet people with different mentality on the road, the good, bad and ugly.

According to him, arresting people has to do with force, and they have to gauge the amount used, so that it will not be seen as abusing the human rights of road users.

“Hence, we always advise officers to show high level of resilience, put on the canopy of professionalism to achieve the core value of the corps.

“We cannot continue to reciprocate to the abusive nature of members of the public, knowing that we are serving them, but serving them does not mean we should be abused in the way and manner that young man was.

“The public should know that we are human, we are recruited from members of the community, it is just the training that we received that made us to be resilient,” he said.

Hamzat advised the motoring public that officers and men of the road safety are there to ensure their safety, that of lives and property, hence they should not molest and intimidate them while they carry out their lawful duties.

He noted that road safety of yesterday was completely different from what obtain now, hence, they would go all out to deal within the ambit of the law, with people who violate road traffic rules or molest their staff.

“It is not acceptable, uncalled for and does not sit well with us, and we will use every means to resist abuse against our men,” he said.

Also commenting, Mr Patrick Adenusi, Managing Director, Safety Beyond Borders, a road safety Non-governmental Organisation, described the commendation letter presented to the officers as wonderful.

“What we witnessed today is wonderful, if it’s not done, the morale of the men will be dampened, and I am excited and glad that this happened within a very short time.

“It is happening when the iron is still hot and this is the best thing and time,” he said.

He said that the lady involved must be prosecuted, adding that this had happened one time too many.

Adenusi said that if nothing was done, others would be encouraged to do the same thing.

Mohammad, on his part, said that the whole scenario played out in his presence, right from the field up to the time the woman was taken to the base.

“When the incident happened, I tried calming the woman down, but she was only trying to get sympathy from the public.

“Our aim on the road is to save lives and not to cause problems but unfortunately my calming the woman down yielded no response, she kept on hitting and kicking the officer,” he said.