Fifteen passengers have been discovered hiding under the cover of a Mitsubishi truck loaded with goods and motorcycles, in a shocking breach of road safety regulations.
The passengers were uncovered by operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) during an enforcement operation after the truck, marked GDD 815 ZP, reportedly aroused suspicion.
A video released on the FRSC’s official X account on Sunday showed marshals pulling back a large green cover over the truck’s cargo area, exposing the passengers squeezed among sacks, goods and eight motorcycles.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, said the driver, identified as Umar Muhammadu, was arrested after the vehicle was intercepted.
According to Ohaeri, the marshals became suspicious of the vehicle’s sealed covering and decided to carry out a closer inspection.
Their search allegedly uncovered 15 people and eight motorcycles dangerously concealed beneath the cover.
Ohaeri said the arrangement not only violated road safety regulations but also placed the lives of the passengers, the driver and other road users at serious risk.
The driver was also accused of attempting to bribe an FRSC marshal with N500 and allegedly failed to produce a valid driver’s licence.
Following his arrest, Muhammadu, the vehicle and its occupants were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Mararaba, CSP M. Daniel, for further investigation and prosecution.
The action followed the directive of the FRSC Sector Commander, RS7.1 FCT, CC Tijjani Iliyasu.
Driver Escapes With Marshal, Gets Jail Term
In a separate incident in Abia State, another commercial driver, Azubuike Dominic, landed in prison after allegedly fleeing with an FRSC marshal who was escorting him to court.
Dominic was initially arrested for allegedly driving without a valid driver’s licence but reportedly absconded with the marshal while they were on their way to court.
The FRSC said he was eventually re-arrested several kilometres away after its personnel launched a coordinated pursuit with the military.
A Mobile Court sitting in Abia subsequently convicted Dominic.
The court, presided over by His Worship C. E. Nwankpa, sentenced him to one month in prison, to be served at the Afara Correctional Centre.
The FRSC said the two incidents underscored its determination to clamp down on dangerous driving practices through intelligence-led enforcement, inter-agency cooperation and the use of Mobile Courts.
The Corps warned motorists, especially commercial drivers, against carrying passengers in concealed or unsafe parts of vehicles, overloading, transporting motorcycles in dangerous conditions, driving without valid licences and attempting to bribe enforcement officers.
It said its marshals would continue to intensify enforcement operations nationwide to curb practices capable of causing avoidable road crashes and deaths.
