Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A tragic road accident on Monday morning near the Total filling station in the Berger area of the Federal Capital Territory has reignited public concern over the conduct of traffic enforcement operations in Abuja, following the death of a female Point of Sale operator who was struck by a commercial bus allegedly being pursued by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
The incident occurred in the early hours of the day along the busy Berger corridor, an area known for heavy vehicular movement and pedestrian activity, particularly during weekday mornings. Eyewitnesses said the victim, a POS operator who works in the area, had arrived early to open for business and was crossing the road after buying food when the fatal collision occurred.
According to multiple witnesses at the scene, a commercial coaster bus operating along the Mararaba–Nyanya route was travelling at high speed while being chased by an FRSC patrol vehicle. In the course of the pursuit, the bus reportedly veered and struck the woman as she attempted to cross the road close to the Total filling station.
Johnson, a commuter who said he witnessed the incident at close range, described a chaotic and disturbing scene. He explained that the woman was thrown violently to the other side of the road upon impact. Neither the bus driver nor the pursuing FRSC officials stopped after the collision, he said, leaving the victim lying on the road with severe injuries.
“The woman who died was a POS operator in the area. She came in early, bought food, and was trying to cross near the Total filling station when FRSC officials were chasing a commercial coaster bus at high speed,” Johnson recounted. “The bus hit her and threw her to the other side of the road. The driver did not stop, and the FRSC vehicle also continued chasing the bus at high speed.”
Johnson added that the victim’s body remained on the road for several minutes before officers from the Utako Police Division arrived. By the time help came, he said, the woman had already died from her injuries. He also disclosed that a bystander recorded the entire incident on video and later showed it to the police, before leaving with them for further questioning.
A newspaper vendor who operates near the scene confirmed that the accident happened in the morning near the NNPC axis, directly opposite the Total filling station. He corroborated claims that both the coaster bus and the FRSC vehicle were moving at high speed and failed to stop after the collision.
“The incident happened this morning around the NNPC area, opposite the Total filling station,” the vendor said. “The FRSC vehicle and the coaster bus were moving at high speed. The coaster bus hit the woman and continued. None of the vehicles stopped. They did not wait.”
Two automobile mechanics working in a nearby workshop also told reporters that they saw FRSC officials pursuing the commercial bus shortly before it struck the woman. They maintained that the chase directly contributed to the accident and expressed anger over what they described as reckless enforcement practices.
“Road safety officials were pursuing a coaster bus that operates on the Mararaba–Nyanya route this morning,” the mechanics said. “It was the chase that caused the driver to hit the woman. After the collision, neither vehicle stopped.”
The death has sparked outrage among traders and commuters in the area, many of whom say aggressive chases by traffic enforcement officers are a frequent occurrence along the Berger axis. Another POS operator, identified as Ola, said the location has become notorious for high-speed pursuits, warning that such practices put innocent pedestrians at constant risk.
“This is where the incident happened. FRSC officials frequently carry out such chases here,” Ola said. “On Saturday, they chased a coaster bus, and it could have killed someone if it had been a busy day like Monday. This is not the first time they have chased vehicles in this area.”
Ola added that residents and workers in the area have repeatedly raised concerns about enforcement tactics but feel their complaints have been ignored. He warned that public frustration is growing and could escalate if similar incidents continue to occur.
In response to the incident, the Federal Capital Territory Sector Commander of the FRSC, Felix Theman, said the Corps had launched an internal investigation to establish the facts surrounding the alleged chase. He stated that all patrol teams operating within the Central Area, Zone 7, and surrounding locations had been recalled as part of the inquiry.
“I received a report similar to yours, and we are currently investigating the matter,” Theman said. “I have recalled all patrol teams, particularly within the central area, Zone 7, and surrounding areas, to determine whether any of our patrol units were actually involved.”
He cautioned against drawing conclusions before the investigation is concluded, noting that members of the public sometimes mistake other vehicles for FRSC patrol units. According to him, not every pickup or official-looking vehicle on the road is necessarily engaged in enforcement operations.
“Most of the time, people don’t differentiate between a patrol vehicle and other vehicles,” Theman explained. “Many pickups are used for activities other than regular patrol. Until we can confirm whether it was indeed a patrol team, it would be premature to claim that a patrol unit was pursuing someone.”
The sector commander also acknowledged that the Berger area is consistently busy, with a high mix of vehicles and pedestrians, making safety enforcement particularly sensitive. He said the FRSC would issue a formal press statement once investigations are completed and facts are clearly established.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain a response from the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, were unsuccessful. Calls placed to her phone went unanswered, and a WhatsApp message sent to her had not been replied to.
The incident adds to a growing list of road traffic fatalities in the Federal Capital Territory and has renewed calls for a review of enforcement strategies, particularly the use of high-speed chases in densely populated urban areas. For many residents around Berger, Monday’s tragedy is not just another statistic, but a painful reminder of the human cost of lapses in road safety management.
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