By Damilola Abiola
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has dismissed a viral video showing a naked tricycle rider confronting its operatives along the Benin–Sapele Road in Edo State, clarifying that the incident is not recent but dates back to July 16, 2020.
The video, which resurfaced on social media this week, shows the rider violently damaging a patrol vehicle and clashing with officers. According to the FRSC, the recirculation is “a calculated act by mischievous handlers” aimed at misleading the public and stirring emotions.
In a statement by Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the agency recalled that the rider, Mr. Adeshine Adeyemo, had already been prosecuted and sentenced. On January 11, 2021, the Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court in Benin City found him guilty of malicious damage and breach of public peace, sentencing him to three months in prison.
The Corps also noted that its personnel captured in the video were not spared. An internal disciplinary panel investigated their conduct and sanctioned the seven-man patrol team with reduction in rank for unprofessional behavior. They were later redeployed to other commands.
“The resurfacing of this video may create unnecessary panic and mislead unsuspecting members of the public into believing it is a recent development,” Ogungbemide said.
He stressed that while the Corps will not tolerate attacks on its officers, it equally maintains zero tolerance for misconduct among its staff. The FRSC appealed to citizens to disregard the video and assured the public of its continued commitment to safer roads and professionalism.