The Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), ACM Bisi Kazeem, disclosed this in a statement made available to our reporter on Thursday in Abuja.

Kazeem stated that the video currently in circulation was an old video, adding that the corps had taken necessary action after the incident.

It was reported that the video was recorded in Benin, along Benin/Sapele road on July 16 and the staff involved had been adequately disciplined.

The punishment was in accordance with FRSC Regulations on Maintenance of Discipline at the instance of the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi and the outcome of the trial made public on Aug. 2.

Kazeem said the video showed an erring tricycle rider who went on a face-off with FRSC patrol team, after been caught destroying patrol vehicle along Sapele road Benin, Edo.

“The Corps wishes to inform the general public that the incident did not just happen as purportedly misrepresented by social media operators.

“You would recall that the Corps Marshal had ordered the constitution of a disciplinary panel immediately the case was reported, to conduct a holistic investigation and trial of the seven-man patrol team involved in the incident.

“And at the end of the trial, the entire team were awarded reduction in rank.

“The Corps Marshal, while approving the recommendation of the panel, also directed the immediate redeployment of the affected Staff from the command.

“The reduction in rank was awarded as punishment to the team having been investigated, tried and found guilty of patrol misconduct, incivility, unprofessional, and unethical behaviour towards an offender.

“It is an act that contradicts the operational ethics of the Corps,’’ he said.

It was also reported that Oyeyemi has warned personnel to deploy maximum level of civility in arresting offenders rather than taking the law into their hands.

Oyeyemi noted that the management of the Corps would continue in its steadfastness towards ensuring that its personnel exhibit the highest level of civility, professionalism and ethical values while relating with the public.

“As an organisation that does not condone indiscipline, the Corps had to punish its staff first, for been uncivil towards the tricycle rider so as to deter other staff.

He said that this was also to compel them to be tolerant, professional and gentle while handling traffic violators.

“This measures were carried out irrespective of the fact that the rider was apprehended driving against traffic, went berserk at the point of arrest, stripped himself naked and started throwing obstacles on both personnel and the patrol vehicle at some point.

“He even dragged the patrol operatives in uniform without anyone assaulting him.

“All these happened in an attack where he destroyed the staff’s uniform and not only damaged the windscreen of the patrol car, but disfigured the bonnet and other body parts with mud and stone,’’ he said.

FRSC boss admonished the perpetrators of such media propaganda to desist from heating up the polity at this sensitive moment of national development.

“Fashion out measures that could enhance peaceful coexistence, rather than ignite anger and violence,’’ he said.

The post FRSC condemns re-circulation of video on harassment of personnel appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Ehindero told our reporter in Lagos on Thursday that the issue of regular training and retraining of the personnel would also bring about the required change from the new outfit.

“I am more interested in trainings. Any group that you have to bring in whatever name must be trained properly before they perform whatever duty that is required of them.

“The society is getting enlightened and what is obtainable some years ago is not what is obtainable now. So, you have to change with the society by organising regular trainings.

“Lack of training and capacity building programme has been the main problem of getting quality officers to discharge their duties properly in the service,” he said.

Ehindero said that SARS was supposed to be the teeth of the police in terms of confronting robbers, adding that reforming them was significant to achieve the initial objectives for creating them.

“SARS is not a bad outfit, it is just that we have bad operators in the outfit.

“There is no organisation that does what we call quality control more than the police. However, each year we will need to weed out the bad eggs according to the extent of crime they committed,” he said.

The former police chief said that the government had done well for the police in reforming the police act which would take care of human rights and the conduct of policemen.

“The inadequacies in the force in terms of equipment, welfare and building will be taken care of partially. I am sure that the Police Trust Fund now will address the problem of trainings in the force,” he said.

Ehindero, however, urged the youths to be a little cautious and tactical with the way they were going about the protest.

“They should try to desist from creating unrest and disturbing people who are going about their respective businesses.

“They have made their point and I think they should wait on the government to react to their demands.

“Fortunately, the government has reacted positively by scrapping SARS and their willingness to reform the police,” the retired IGP said.

The post #EndSars: Former IGP lauds FG moves, calls for more training for personnel appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Abdallah made the disclosure on Friday at the Public Destruction of Drug Exhibits by Taraba Command of NDLEA in Jalingo.

He said that the gesture would go a long way in improving operations of the agency on campaign against drug addiction in Nigeria.

He said increased consumption of illicit drugs among the youths in Taraba was worrisome, appealing to families to brace up to their responsibilities.

According to Abdallah, effective drug prevention must involve positive engagement of children, youths and adults with their families, schools, workplace and community.

He commended Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba for his support to the agency in addressing drug problems in the state.

He also commended Mrs Anna Darius, wife of the governor, for giving great impetus to the war against drug abuse in the state.

The chairman thanked the governor for including NDLEA commandant in the state’s Security Council as well as supporting the agency with operational vehicles.

He noted that the provision of Hope Afresh Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), managed by the wife of the governor for sensitisation against drug abuse was a great boost to anti-drug abuse campaign.

Earlier, Acting Commander of NDLEA in the state, Mr Peter Odaudu, had said that the agency had assembled seven tonnes (6,963.80 kilogrammes) of deadly weeds and psychotropic substances for destruction.

Odaudu said that the exhibits were seized between January, 2003 and December, 2018.

He listed some of the illicit drugs assembled for destruction as Cannabis Sativa, Diazepam, Rophynol, Cough syrups with codeine and Tramadol.

According to him, a court order for their destruction has been duly obtained.

Odaudu commended other security agencies in the state for their cooperation in the success recorded by the NDLEA.

He commended the state government for supporting the agency towards ensuring effective control in consumption of illicit drugs in the state.

In his remarks, the state governor, Mr Darius Ishaku, said that drug consumption had increased violent crimes in the state.

Ishaku, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Haruna Manu, said that most persons arrested for violent crimes in the state were youths.

He, therefore, urged the youths to avoid the use of illicit drugs, saying that it was dangerous to their health and the society.

He also urged the agency to collaborate with office of the First Lady to achieve more feat in its mandate of ensuring a drug-free society.

Ishaku said that the construction of health centres by the first lady’s foundation for sensitisation in the three senatorial zones was a better platform to adopt by the agency.

He assured the agency of continued support by the state government to eradicate drug abuse.

The post Buhari approves recruitment of 5,000 personnel for NDLEA appeared first on NEWSVERGE.