The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has dismissed allegations of assault and misconduct involving its patrol team at the Central Business District (CBD), Abuja, following a trending video that sparked public concern over an incident on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
According to the Corps Public Education Officer, Deputy Corps Commander Osondu Ohaeri, the incident occurred during a routine traffic enforcement operation by the RS7.14 Central Business District Unit Command, where a vehicle was intercepted for traffic violations, including overloading and seatbelt non-compliance.
Ohaeri explained that the situation escalated when the driver allegedly became non-compliant and deviated from lawful directives, drawing public attention and attracting a crowd, which heightened security concerns and raised the risk of disorder.
He dismissed what he described as a misleading narrative surrounding the incident, insisting that no FRSC personnel assaulted, threatened, or attempted to use force against the driver or occupants of the vehicle.
Ohaeri also clarified that an individual seen in the circulating video holding an iron rod was neither affiliated with the driver nor the FRSC, but was a passerby whose actions had been misconstrued to distort the facts of the incident.
Emphasising the conduct of personnel during the encounter, he said officers on ground demonstrated professionalism, restraint and emotional intelligence by de-escalating the tension and disengaging in the interest of public safety.
He stressed that the decision to restore calm should not be viewed as a compromise of enforcement standards, but as a strategic response aimed at preventing escalation, protecting lives and maintaining order amid volatile crowd dynamics.
The Corps reiterated its commitment to road safety enforcement, professionalism, discipline and respect for human rights, while urging members of the public to disregard misleading content and continue cooperating with law enforcement officers.
