The Delta State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned unsuspecting drivers to beware of fraudsters using the names of the corps to sell stickers to shuttle bus drivers in the state.
This was made known by the Delta State Sector Commander, Bassey Eshiet, who vowed to unmask the criminals behind the act.
Eshiet, in a statement, said the commission is not in partnership with anyone over the alleged sales of stickers, urging shuttle bus drivers to refuse to be scammed through such a scheme cooked up by extortionists.
He said the “unwholesome” practice is against the mandate of the corps.
“It is extortion of money from shuttle bus drivers through sales of stickers to them, claiming to be FRSC stickers and that it will protect them from arrest if traffic law violation is established.
“The motoring public and road users are by this development advised to obey all traffic laws and regulations, desist from offering bribes to FRSC operatives, avoid speeding, overloading, use of unsafe tyres and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
“The corps will soon commence a joint operation codenamed “Operation Sanitise Asaba-Benin, and Asaba-Onitsha Highways of Traffic lnfractions,” Eshiet informed.
On a different note, tragedy struck Tse Agubor Gyaruwa in Tsambee-Mbesev Council Ward of Gwer-West Local Government Area, Benue State, as an inferno engulfed the community, resulting in the death of an 80-year-old woman.
It was gathered that over 50 houses and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in the devastating incident.
The village head of the community, Chief Ayatse Agubor, told reporters on Friday that the fire broke out around 10 am while residents of community were in the farm.
He said despite their efforts to prevent the fire from affecting their farm products, they soon realised that the entire village was engulfed in flames.
Agubor warned youths in the area to refrain from unauthorised bush burning, stressing that there would be consequences for those caught engaging in such activities.
Hajia Kongo, a resident who suffered significant losses, lamented the destruction caused by the inferno.
She claimed to have lost over 10 bags of maize, soya beans and more than 100,000 hidden in her bags of burnt corn.
Reacting to the incident, Mr Henry Agba, the caretaker chairman of Gwer-West LGA, declared that illicit bush burning would no longer be tolerated in the area.
Agba said the council would dispatch a team to assess the extent of the destruction caused by the inferno and report to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BSEMA, to facilitate assistance for the affected residents.