At least two regular marshals of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were yesterday shot allegedly by the security detail attached to the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly Hon. Chikwendu Kalu, for stopping the Speaker’s wife who drove in a vehicle without using her seat belt.
According to NewTelegraphOnline, the incident happened when the lady’s vehicle was flagged down by the officials of the FRSC at a pin down point located near its Unit Command at Umueka KM 78 Aba Road, in Abia State.
When questioned for not using her seat belt, the lady reportedly flared up and alerted her husband on phone.
The Speaker’s police detail that were ordered to the scene accosted the marshals and shot at the two of them who sustained injuries.
The shooting incident caused no little confusion at the scene as passersby ran for dear lives.
Efforts to contact the FRSC Unit Commander Ojukwu Linus and well as the Speaker on the matter proved abortive, just as his Chief Press Secretary, Okey Chikwendu refused to pick his call.
But Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Eyinnaya Appollos said he was not aware of the incident, even as he said the Speaker could not have given such orders.
But, FRSC Spokesman, Commander Bisi Kazeem, confirmed the report, stating that the matter has been reported to the Commissioner of Police in the state for thorough investigation.
However, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade confirmed the shooting, but blamed it on some over-zealous policemen and not the Speaker.
He said: “The policemen were over-zealous and I have since ordered their detention and appropriate disciplinary measures would be meted out to them.
We have also ensured that the marshals received medical attention.”
Oyebade said he has also reached out to the leadership of the FRSC in order to assured it of the usual inter-agency co-operation even in the face of the current unfortunate incident.