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33 FRSC officials arrested over highway extortion
By Modupe Shodeinde
A combined team of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Department of State Services and the Federal Road Safety Commission have arrested 33 officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission over highway extortion.
The arrest was carried out under an operation codenamed “Operation Tranquility V” to rid the agency of bad eggs whose extortion of motorists on the nation’s highways has given the establishment a bad image.
One civilian be was also arrested in the raid.
In a statement by the Spokesman for the ICPC, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, on Friday, she disclosed that the raids were conducted simultaneously in five locations nationwide.
She said those arrested are, five FRSC officials and a civilian at Onitsha Head Bridge, 11 FRSC officials on Awka – Onitsha Road, both in Anambra State; eight FRSC officials on Calabar – Bakassi Road, Cross River State; four FRSC officials at Hawan Kibo, Jos Road, Plateau State; and five FRSC officials on Oboloafor – Enugu Road, Enugu State.
“All in all, 33 FRSC officials and one civilian were arrested in the raids.
She disclosed that the operation also yielded the recovery of a total sum of N45,875 from the suspects, an amount gotten from extortionary activities.
She added that the suspects have been granted administrative bails while further investigation activities are still on-going to ensure that those culpable are appropriately punished.
Ogugua noted that ICPC is determined to sustain the operation to rid Nigeria’s highways of officials who extort money from road-users.
