THE Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Udu Branch, Chief Akpokona Omafuaire has cried out over what he described as an unjust and arrogant display of power by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) along the Ozoro/Oleh roundabout in Delta State.
According to Omafuaire, he and some colleagues were on their way to a professional assignment at Ozoro when the incident occurred.
The road safety officials, he said, physically obstructed their movement after demanding a bribe and even went as far as hitting his car with woods and other weapons all without provocation.
Narrating the ordeal, Omafuaire said: “I was simply on my way with Colleagues to handle a legal matter. Out of nowhere, these officers jumped into the road, blocked my vehicle and began hitting it. I identified myself, yet they demanded I give them money, I refused and acted as if they were above the law.
“I threatened to report to the Police Area Commander and they started to deflating my tyres. The intervention of others saved us.
The lawyer further expressed disappointment at the behaviour of the officials, describing it as a reflection of growing impunity among some law enforcement personnel.
“How can an officer of the law behave in such a crude and disrespectful manner? I did nothing wrong. It’s this sort of harassment that undermines public trust in our institutions,” he added.
Colleagues who witnessed the event confirmed the confrontation, expressing shock at the officers conduct, particularly after realising the victim were legal professionals.
Efforts to get a response from the FRSC command in Delta State were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
The incident has sparked conversations around the need for greater discipline and retraining among security and road enforcement officials across the country. Many Nigerians, especially professionals and civil rights advocates, have repeatedly called for a more civil and lawful approach in dealing with citizens.
Akpokona called on the FRSC authorities to investigate the matter and take necessary disciplinary action. He warned that such abuse of power, if unchecked, could escalate tensions and damage the credibility of law enforcement institutions.
“I’m not just speaking for myself. I’m speaking for the many Nigerians who suffer similar abuse daily but have no voice or platform. Enough is enough,” he said.
This incident adds to a growing list of public complaints against uniformed personnel allegedly harassing citizens without justification, raising fresh concerns over accountability within federal agencies.
