The counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has said arming officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps will be an invitation to anarchy on Nigerian roads.

In a press statement on Thursday, Ejiofor said the proposed bill to arm the FRSC is deeply troubling and should be rejected.

He insisted that the attempt to turn a civilian agency responsible for traffic management into an armed force poses a serious risk to public safety and threatens to escalate violence on our roads.

He explained that innocent lives have been lost to the tragic consequences of armed officials misusing their power.

He said, “Arming the FRSC will only create anarchy and insanity on the roads. Instances of trigger-happy law enforcement officers have marred the nation’s peace, leading to the needless loss of innocent lives.

“Majority of them have turned their various checkpoints across the states into mobile ATM machines. Oftentimes, non-compliance with their illegitimate demand to part with one’s hard-earned stipends at their various checkpoints usually leads to the untimely death of citizens.

“Allowing the FRSC to carry guns will only increase the likelihood of such tragic incidents.

“We also need to think about the psychological impact of arming road safety officials. The main duties of the FRSC, as clearly defined under the law establishing the agency, are to guide, educate, and enforce traffic regulations in a calm, orderly manner, not to incite fear or foster an environment of intimidation.

“When we are deliberately raising the possibility of violence on our highways, how can we say that we are protecting public safety?”

According to him, instead of arming the FRSC, the agency should invest in contemporary technology, improved training, and coordination with security agencies to address the underlying causes of insecurity.

“Hence, I urge all well-meaning citizens to reject this bill in its entirety. The focus should be to ensure our roads remain a place of safety, not a battlefield.

“It is imperative that lawmakers and other elected leaders focus on pressing issues bedevilling the country,” he added.

PUNCH