Police To Clamp Down On Fake Road Traffic Officials

The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mr. Muhammed Ndabawa says the police would soon, clamp down on fake road traffic officers with different colours of uniforms who parade themselves as TIMARIV officials.

Mr. Ndabawa disclosed this during an interactive meeting for stakeholders in traffic management in Port Harcourt metropolis organised by the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Port Harcourt Area Command held at the police officers mess, old GRA, Forces Avenue, Port Harcourt last Tuesday.

He said they must soon fish out the various groups that are masquerading themselves as traffic management agents or taskforce by embarrassing and harassing innocent citizens on the road, advising the motoring public to inform the police of such elements for possible arrest and to face the long arm of the law.

The police boss who condemned the use of military as taskforce in the state said such is undemocratic and abuse of office as the military were not trained for such duties, and enjoined such agencies to stop forthwith.

He said the operations of traffic management should be tailored to target in order for the people to feel safe and go about their normal businesses unmolested and without tension, adding that the police should be well equipped to work with the traffic management agencies for effective enforcement.

The Commissioner of Police frowned over the illegal and unauthorised use of siren by both officers and company drivers on the road, and disclosed that some arrest have been made to this effect, warning all those in that habit to stop forthwith.

He said siren could only be used when the police is chasing criminals, on distress calls or emergency, adding that erring drivers would be made to face the music.

The police boss, who was represented by the assistant commissioner of police operations, Mr. Godwin Nwobodo enjoined the motoring public to obey traffic laws and commended PCRC for organising the enlightenment programme which would go a long way.

Also speaking, the controller general of Rivers State Road Traffic Management Agency (TIMARIV), Dr. Nelson Jaja advised motorists not to fight or send tugs to attack officials of the agency while on duty, saying they are exercising their legitimate duties established by law.

Dr. Jaja, who was represented by the Chief Traffic Controller, Mr. Confidence Eke called on the public to report to the office any TIMARIV officials who attempted to arrest them when they parked their vehicles off the road to answer or make a call, as the agency would not tolerate criminality and further enjoined all to obey traffic laws.

He also advised that the public should report any suspicious officer with coloured uniform without proper name and tag to the authorities for action, pointing out that two of such fake officers are in police custody at Olu Obasanjo police station.

In his speech, the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. George Tolofari, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Somiari Isaac Harry decried the act where military personel manhandled TIMARIV officials whenever their vehicle or motorcycle were seized, adding that the agency was set up with a law in 2009, and also called on the motorists to obey traffic laws.

Earlier, the chairman, PCRC, Port Harcourt Area Command, Mr. Godfrey Agorom said the programme was aimed at sensitising the motorists on the role law enforcement agents and the road traffic management agencies are to play to ensure sanity on our roads, adding that the activities of uncountable uniform groups causing unnecessary tension on the roads should be checked now by all stakeholders, and thanked all for making the prograame a huge success.