*Mobile Courts convict traffic offenders on most prevalent offences as overloading, driver’s licence, number plate, speed limit, and vehicle licence violations 鈹�Dr. Kayode Olagunju, Assistant Corps Marshal and ZCO, Zone 4 Command

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In view of the increased mobility, road traffic law violations and crashes that are usually associated with the last quarter of the year, the Zone 4 Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), comprising Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States of Nigeria, has commenced 鈥淥peration Road Sanitiser鈥�.

The FRSC Zone 4 Command announced that the exercise, which is aimed at ensuring sanity on the roads, holds between Friday, September 18 and Wednesday, September 30, 2020.

Dr. Kayode Olagunju, mni, Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) and Zonal Commanding Officer (ZCO) Zone RS 4, Jos, in Plateau State capital, disclosed this Thursday, September 17, in a statement by DRC Terry Hoomlong, Deputy Route Commander and Acting Zonal Public Education Officer Zone RS 4, and made available to 绿帽献妻.

Olagunju stated that the Special Patrol Operation is necessitated by observed increased mobility, road traffic law violations and crashes usually associated with the last quarter of the year tagged the EMBER months.

The Assistant Corps Marshal and ZCO directed all the Commanding Officers in the Zone to step up their activities to curb the menace of road traffic crashes.

He as well directed the Commanders to prosecute more traffic offenders, as mobile courts in conjunction with the Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States recently convicted 434 additional traffic regulation violators.

According to Olagunju, the operation entails enforcement of critical offences, such as use of phone while driving, dangerous driving, overloading, speed limit violation, driving with worn-out tyres, and driving with shattered vehicle windshield.

Others are operating mechanically deficient vehicles, seatbelt violation, riding motorcycle without helmet, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, failure to install speed limiting device, among other violations, said he.

The FRSC chief stressed that Corps would not spare any reprobate and recalcitrant offender.

The Command enjoined all motorists to exhibit caution while using the roads and ensure that their vehicles are in good working condition.

The statement, which disclosed the breakdown of the recent Mobile Court convictions, noted that Chief Magistrate Godswill Longs, in Plateau State, found guilty as charged 166 offenders out of 170 arraigned.

In Nasarawa State, Chief Magistrate Shafa Yahaya also convicted 31 out of 33 drivers arraigned before him.

He added that Magistrate Gwahimba Vincent sitting in Nasarawa-Toto convicted 30 of the 35 arraigned Offenders.

Whereas Magistrate Abundaga Habila, sitting in Keffi, also in Nasarawa State convicted 51 offenders out of the 66 arraigned.

Chief Magistrate Abimbola KI Buzi, sitting in Nasarawa-Eggon found guilty 28 of the 35 arraigned traffic violators.

The statement also announced that Magistrate Victoria Ishaku, sitting in Akwanga, also delivered guilty judgements on 64 of the 88 arraigned offenders while Magistrate EL Farouk sitting in Garaku convicted 34 out of the 47 drivers that appeared before him.

In Benue, Chief Magistrate Vaachi Terlumun convicted all the 34 traffic offenders arraigned before him.

The Corps added that the convicted drivers were jailed for periods of between two and six months, but were given the option of fines ranging between N2,000 and N10,000 in line with the聽 FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007 and the National Road Traffic Regulation, 2012.

The most prevalent offences were overloading, driver’s licence violation, number plate violation, speed limit violation and vehicle licence violation.

Meanwhile, Olagunju noted that many of the traffic offenders earlier declared wanted for not reporting as required and failure to pay the stipulated fines penalty voluntarily, have redeemed the fines.

However, he said that some others were apprehended during the special Operation designed to track them.

He, therefore, called on all others who are yet to report to do so immediately as 鈥極peration Tracker鈥� continues as part of efforts at re-arresting the fleeing offenders. When apprehended, the Assistant Corps Marshal and ZCO of Zone RS 4 disclosed that the offenders are to be prosecuted in line with Section 10(4) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007 and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulation, 2012.

He enjoined motorists to always observe all traffic rules and regulation while using the roads.

They should drive to stay alive, while wishing all road users safe journey into the New Year and beyond, said Olagunju.