A truck driver, Umar Muhammadu, has been arrested after Federal Road Safety Corps officials discovered 15 passengers allegedly concealed under the covering of his vehicle during an enforcement operation.
The passengers were reportedly found alongside eight motorcycles and other goods in the cargo section of a Mitsubishi truck with registration number GDD 815 ZP.
The FRSC said the vehicle was intercepted after its personnel became suspicious of the sealed covering over the cargo area.
According to the Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, on Sunday, officers pulled back the large covering and discovered the passengers hidden among the goods and motorcycles.
“Beneath the covering, Marshals discovered 15 persons and eight motorcycles dangerously concealed among goods, in clear violation of road safety regulations and with grave implications for the safety of the occupants and other road users,” Ohaeri said in a statement.
The driver was also accused of attempting to induce one of the FRSC marshals with N500 during the operation.
He reportedly failed to present a valid driver’s licence.
Following his arrest, the truck, driver and passengers were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in Mararaba, CSP M. Daniel, for further investigation and prosecution.
The action followed a directive from the Sector Commander, RS7.1 FCT, CC Tijjani Iliyasu.
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In a separate case in Abia State, a Mobile Court sentenced a commercial driver, Azubuike Dominic, to one month in prison after he was arrested for driving without a valid licence.
Dominic reportedly escaped with an FRSC marshal while being escorted to court but was later rearrested several kilometres away after a coordinated pursuit involving FRSC personnel and the military.
He was subsequently arraigned before the Mobile Court presided over by His Worship C. E. Nwankpa and sentenced to one month at Afara Correctional Centre.
The FRSC said the two incidents underscored its determination to curb dangerous road practices through intelligence-driven enforcement and cooperation with other security agencies.
The Corps warned commercial drivers and other motorists against overloading, concealing passengers or motorcycles in vehicles, driving without valid licences and offering money to officials to influence enforcement actions.
It added that Mobile Courts and other enforcement measures would continue to be deployed nationwide to promote safer road transportation.
