The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has denied claims that its officers have started bearing arms.

The social media was awash early Monday when a picture surfaced showing officials of the agency holding guns.

FRSC Head of Media Relations and Strategy, Mr Bisi Kazeem, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the rumour was being circulated by mischievous elements seeking to provoke disorder in the society.

Kazeem said some “irresponsible” people took a recent statement by the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, out of context to suit their agenda

According to Kazeem, Oyeyemi was misquoted when he lamented the recent findings that 70 marshals lost their lives this year alone to some reckless motorists.

“The Corps Marshal only stipulated that such a high number of loses could have been avoided if FRSC personnel were carrying arms as allowed by the law.

“But, he quickly added that there is no immediate plan to implement the law that permits the officials to carry arms.

“It is unfortunate that some wicked people now took that to mean that he said officials are now being armed; it is a figment of their imagination,” he said.

On the picture sewn on social media, Kazeem said the picture was dug out from trainings that took place years ago.

He said the corps had been undergoing such training on regular intervals since 1992 during the administration of former President Ibrahim Babangida.

“We have never put the exercise as part of the general practice of our operation and we have no plans of implementing it in the nearest future.”

Oludolapo Adelana

Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.