Kate Henshaw Questions Move to Arm FRSC Officials Amidst Fears of Increased Brutality

Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw has expressed her concerns over a proposed bill that would allow Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officials to carry guns.

The bill, which passed its second reading in the House of Representatives, has raised fears among many Nigerians, with Henshaw taking to X on October 14, 2024, to share her thoughts.

Reacting to the news, the actress highlighted the ongoing issues of police brutality in the country.

“We are still dealing with police brutality every now and then.”

“Now, they want to add road safety.”

“Who will protect the citizens?” Henshaw wrote, questioning the necessity of arming FRSC officers.

Her post sparked reactions from her followers, with many agreeing with her disapproval of the bill.

One user wrote, “Lowkey, it’s the FG rebranding and re-equipping the FRSC as Sars in disguise.”

” There’ll be no difference. We must speak against it.”

Another comment pointed out the potential motivation behind the move, speculating that it was a strategic decision to fill the gap in the police force.

“It’s tactics; they don’t have the numbers in the police force again and nobody is really applying for recruitment, so in case there is a protest outburst, Road Safety will be added to the force to combat it.”

“It’s a strategy I guess, because no meaningful reason to arm Road Safety.”

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Abiodun Derin Adesida and Rep. Olaide Lateef Muhammed, seeks to amend the FRSC Act of 2007, aiming to establish a Special Armed Squad within the FRSC.

The proposed amendment is designed to enhance the agency’s operations, but it has been met with widespread concern about potential abuses.

In a separate post, Henshaw emphasized the resilience of Nigerians despite the country’s current challenges, quoting Jude Ilo: “We are still standing at a time when our reality is meant to break us.”

“But in the face of extreme hardship and purposeless leadership, we are still able to keep moving.”

“We can’t give up, and we can’t stop trying.”

“That is the resilience of the Nigerian spirit.”

“In the young people of Nigeria, there is yet untapped energy for a different world.”

With the bill now advancing further in the House of Representatives, public debate is expected to intensify as citizens continue to question the implications of arming road safety officials.