The Federal Road Safety Corps has secured a one-month jail term for a truck driver after its marshals uncovered 15 passengers concealed under the vehicle’s covering during a recent enforcement operation.

A video released on the FRSC’s official X account on Sunday shows officials inspecting a Mitsubishi truck, marked GDD 815 ZP.

Officers are seen lifting and pulling back a large green cover on the cargo bed, revealing people inside the load area amid sacks and several motorcycles.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, disclosed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the truck driver, Umar Muhammadu, was arrested during an inspection of the vehicle.

According to Ohaeri, the vehicle was intercepted after FRSC personnel became suspicious of its sealed “trampoline” and conducted a closer inspection.

“Beneath the covering, Marshals discovered 15 persons and eight motorcycles dangerously concealed among goods, in clear violation of road safety regulations and with grave implications for the safety of the occupants and other road users,” he said.

Ohaeri added that Muhammadu allegedly attempted to induce an FRSC marshal with N500 and could not produce a valid driver’s licence.

He said the driver was arrested, while the vehicle and its occupants were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Mararaba, CSP M. Daniel, for further investigation and prosecution, following the directive of the Sector Commander, RS7.1 FCT, CC Tijjani Iliyasu.

In a separate incident in Abia State, a Mobile Court sitting in the state sentenced a commercial driver, Azubuike Dominic, to one month in prison after he was apprehended for driving without a valid driver’s licence and subsequently absconded with an FRSC arresting marshal while being escorted to court.

Ohaeri said Dominic was reapprehended several kilometres away following a coordinated pursuit involving FRSC personnel and the military.

The court, presided over by His Worship C. E. Nwankpa, sentenced Dominic to one month’s imprisonment at Afara Correctional Centre.

The FRSC said the incidents demonstrated its resolve to tackle dangerous traffic practices through intelligence-led enforcement and collaboration with other security agencies.

The Corps warned motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators, against concealing passengers or motorcycles, overloading vehicles, driving without valid licences and offering inducements to its personnel.

It also said it would continue to deploy intelligence, professional enforcement and Mobile Courts to improve road safety across the country.

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