Assistant Road Marshal Habib Sayidi, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer seen being assaulted by a female passenger in a viral video, has explained his decision to remain patient during the altercation.
Speaking at an event organized by the FRSC Lagos Sector Command on Wednesday, Sayidi shared that his calm response was shaped by the values instilled in him by his parents.
The incident, which occurred on December 7, showed a passenger hitting the FRSC officer after her vehicle, a Toyota Corolla, was impounded for expired papers dating back to December 2022. Despite the assault, Sayidi did not retaliate.
“My father always tells me that in any situation I find myself, I should be patient, and that was why I did not respond when the woman was hitting me. I am so happy with the commendation letter I got from the sector commander,” Sayidi said.
At the event, Kehinde Hamzat, the Lagos Sector Commander, commended Sayidi for his professionalism and presented him with a letter of commendation.
Hamzat also praised Chief Route Commander Abdullahi Mohammad and Unit Commander of the Lekki Command for maintaining order during the incident.
Hamzat emphasized that officers encounter a wide range of people on the road, including those with negative behaviours.
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He noted that arrests sometimes require force, but officers must use it cautiously to avoid violating human rights.
“We always advise officers to show a high level of resilience and put on the canopy of professionalism to achieve the core value of the corps.
“We cannot continue to reciprocate the abusive nature of members of the public, knowing that we are serving them, but serving them does not mean we should be abused in the way and manner that young man was.
The public should know that we are human; we are recruited from members of the community; it is just the training that we received that made us to be resilient,” Hamzat said.
He also stated that while public servants must deal with abuse professionally, it is not acceptable for officers to be mistreated while carrying out their duties.
He urged the public to respect road safety officers, as their goal is to protect lives and property. “It is not acceptable, uncalled for, and does not sit well with us, and we will use every means to resist abuse against our men,” he added.
Patrick Adenusi, Managing Director of the road safety NGO “Safety Beyond Borders”, expressed support for the commendation, calling it essential for boosting morale.
He also stressed the need for the female passenger to face legal consequences to prevent further incidents of abuse.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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