The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has rubbished reports that it is seeking the permission of the Federal Government for its personnel to bear arms due to insecurity in the country.
The Alarmee reports that some dailies and online news portals had quoted the Corps Marshal, Mr Dauda Biu, as saying on Saturday that there is a need for its personnel to bear firearms in discharging their duties, considering the level of security challenges across the country.
He spoke while inaugurating 1,762 corps personnel who just concluded their four-month introductory course at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, Niger.
Biu, who was represented by Shehu Zaki, a Deputy Corps Marshal, said that the measure would ensure adequate protection for the personnel who were often attacked in the course of duty by some road users or suspected criminals who take advantage of the security challenges in the country.
But the FRSC, in a statement issued by Bisi Kazeem, Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education Officer, said the attention of the FRSC had just been drawn to a report that the Corps Marshal is seeking the permission of the Federal Government for the personnel of the Corps to bear arms.
“The said erroneous statement credited to the representative of the Corps Marshal at the Passing Out Parade of Cadets at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kotangora, Niger State , does not reflect the current position of the Corps Marshal and the management team. Members of the public should therefore take note,” the statement said.
