Mob attacks FRSC officials over ‘negligence’ in A’ Ibom

A mob on Tuesday night in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, attacked officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) over alleged negligence.

A witness said around 9pm, a Honda Pilot SUV Jeep which was on speed rammed into a broken down MAC truck, resulting in the death of the driver.

He alleged that the accident would have been avoided if officials of the FRSC had responded promptly by putting up warning signals.

Uforo Etim Udoka, a witness said: “When the truck broke down at the foot of the bridge, we sensed that it could lead to a very serious accident because a vehicle coming from the opposite direction would not know that there is a truck there. Some people made distressed calls to the FRSC to send their men to control traffic or put up some signals, warning other road users of the danger ahead”.

Another witness, Jonathan Emmanuel, said he made attempts to reach the FRSC Public Relations Officer, Godspower Uwen, to inform him of the situation, but that the operatives of the corps did not get there till around 9am.

“The truck broke down at about 5:00pm and when I drove past, I called the FRSC PRO, Godspower Uwen, he did not pick the calls, instead he asked me to send a text, which I did, asking him to please send his men to that spot,” he said.

When contacted, the FRSC Head of Operations in the state, Mr. Emmanuel Onuoha, blamed the accident on logistics.

He said several requests for assistance to the state government for facilities including tow-truck and operational vehicles were not granted.

He added that the arrangement the commission had with some construction firms in the state collapsed because of the refusal of Julius Berger to cooperate due to litigation by owners of abandoned trucks.