Extortion by FRSC, DRTS (VIO) at Karu axis
Kindly assist us in sensitizing relevant authorities and the general public on the harassment and the dubious fleecing of innocent citizens by men of the V.I.O. and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) which has been going on for some time in the name of computer vehicle checks. For now let me avoid going into arguments […]
Kindly assist us in sensitizing relevant authorities and the general public on the harassment and the dubious fleecing of innocent citizens by men of the V.I.O. and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) which has been going on for some time in the name of computer vehicle checks.
For now let me avoid going into arguments of things like who issued road worthiness certificates and the difference in purpose between the two and the use of Road Worthiness certificates.
This is what has been happening; FRSC officers are strategically located at the critical junction just before the army check point after Nyanya. Here all vehicles coming from Maraba/Nyanya and the Keffi axis and also Jikwai/Karu axis must pass through. Meanwhile their DRTS (V.I.O.) collaborators are stationed like hunters in front of their computer centre, just a short distance ahead (Kugbo).
They (FRSC) stop your vehicle and check your papers. Having seen that your papers are correct, they ask for drivers licence. Your driver’s licence is immediately confiscated and you are asked to go for computer check at the Kugbo centre and come back for your licence. It depends on when or what day you do it.
For some people who may not have the N3,000.00 (Three thousand naira) to do it immediately, they will have to be lucky to later locate their drivers licence after eventually complying as you keep being tossed between the person that seized it (whom you cannot locate) and the computer centre. Some end up never seeing their drivers licence again. They intimidate you and put you in a no-choice situation.
Today Monday, 25th of April 2016 was like a special day as they laid ambush and commandeered tens of vehicles (even more than what they can attend to in one day). Drivers licences were seized and vehicles packed and all were compelled to cough out N3,000.00. If you do not have the money your licence is seized. But today was with a difference as the impunity was taken further. If you insist on having your licence back, your vehicle is impounded and you are asked to come back when you have the money.
This thing has been going on for some time. There is a need for relevant institutions to please educate people on what is happening, the limit of these peoples’ powers and the rights of citizens and also somehow find a way to streamline things and punctuate this inconvenience, general harassment, intimidation and general impunity.
Aminu Okpanachi, Karu, FCT