Human trafficking: FRSC inaugurates taskforce to arrest truck drivers

The Federal Road Safety Corps has inaugurated a Joint Task Force to arrest and prosecute trailer drivers conveying humans.

The move was to halt the rising cases of traffic infractions occasioned by the use of trailers to convey passengers.

The Joint Task Force comprised of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, State Traffic Management Agencies, and operatives of the Corps.

Others drafted into the Task Force include representatives of the various transport unions.

A road traffic crash occurred on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on Monday night, which claimed 10 lives.

The crash that involved a DAF Trailer, occured as a result of excessive speed, overloading, and fatigue.

According to a statement signed by the FRSC spokesperson, Jonas Agwu, on Saturday, the inauguration of the JTF which was in phases commenced with the inauguration of the team to man Kaduna-Abuja Expressway on Saturday at Kakau Toll Gate, Kaduna State.

The Corps Marshal FRSC, Dauda Biu, emphasized the cardinal role of the JTF.

Biu, who was represented by the Assistant Corps Marshal, Federal Operations, Zubairu Mato said, “In the last couple of months, the highways have witnessed incidences of road traffic crashes involving trailers loaded with goods, animals and persons.

“In most of these crashes, several innocent people who were seen petching on top of goods in such vehicles were killed, and the commodities being conveyed also damaged extensively.

“In order to reverse the ugly trend, the JTF members were directed to embark on effective special patrol operations as well as conduct Mobile Court operations on the commissioned route. They are to also ensure immediate prosecution of apprehended offenders.”

The exercise would be carried out across major corridors nationwide.

Consequently, owners of trailers were admonished to warn their drivers against this traffic violation as the corps would not spare anyone caught in the act.

The statement further revealed that a fatal crash occurred on Saturday in Rinji, Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The crash involved a Mercedes Benz with registration number AK808AA and a Volkswagen Opel Vectra also with registration number TFB675RC.

Out of the eight persons in the vehicles, four victims, comprising of one female adult and three male adults, were killed while the remaining 4 victims survived the crash with different degrees of injuries.

The FRSC rescue team recovered the sum of N1,532,100 belonging to the victims.