The Nigeria Police Force has cautioned drivers who violate traffic laws against abduction and manhandling security operatives enforcing these laws while on duty.
The force’s spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this in a video posted on the official X account of the Nigeria Police on Friday.
“Don’t abduct our officers. Don’t take them away. Follow them wherever they are taking you—most especially their bases, units, and offices,” he said, adding that under no circumstances should such be the norm,” Adejobi stated.
Adejobi’s warming comes amid a growing trend of drivers resisting or evading law enforcement officers, preferring to fight or drive away law enforcement agents.
However, Adejobi, in the video, noted the gravity of the situation and the importance of compliance with law enforcement officers.
He stated that, regardless of the circumstances, drivers must obey officers, whether they want to transport them to their stations or take over their vehicles, and warned that non-compliance with traffic law enforcement could lead to severe sanctions.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police stated, “We have seen cases where Federal Road Safety Corps officers contravene vehicles and drivers manhandle them. We’ve seen evident cases where state-owned traffic and road agencies contravene vehicles, and drivers beat them and/or take them away. This is not too good.
“Once you have violated traffic law and your vehicle has been contravened, you are to follow them. You are to comply. You are obliged to obey the instructions of these law enforcement officers.”
Adejobi also cautioned drivers about the dangers and potential accidents that could result from such confrontations, advising them to avoid taking the law into their own hands and instead file complaints through proper channels.
“And of course, if you notice you are not so comfortable with that—probably because they have gone beyond their boundaries and they have violated the standard operating procedures of their organisations—particularly operatives of the Nigeria Police Force—you have the number of all our (states) PROs.
“You have our social media platforms and handles at your fingertips. Reach out to us to complain, whatever the case may be,” he added.
