From Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo
No fewer than 72 persons lost their lives, while 374 others sustained injuries in 115 road traffic crashes recorded in Taraba State between January and October 2026, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed.
The Taraba State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Anna Attah, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Jalingo as part of activities marking the 2026 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Attah described the statistics as devastating, saying they underscored the consequences of road traffic crashes and the need for renewed commitment by government institutions, transport operators, motorists, passengers and other road users to tackle the persistent challenge of road accidents.
She said this year’s commemoration, themed “A Light that Unites Us,” with the global message “Remember, Support, Act,” was designed to honour victims of road traffic crashes, recognise the struggles of survivors and promote collective action towards preventing avoidable road tragedies.
According to her, the remembrance week goes beyond a ceremonial observance, providing an opportunity for society to reflect on the human cost of road crashes and their lasting impact on families, communities and survivors.
She stressed that behind every road traffic crash statistic was a human being, noting that every life lost represented a shattered dream, a grieving family and a future cut short.
The Sector Commander observed that many road crash survivors continued to endure physical disabilities, psychological trauma, emotional distress and financial difficulties long after the incidents, making road safety a critical public health and development concern.
She questioned the continued loss of lives on Nigerian roads despite the fact that many crashes could be prevented through responsible driving, strict compliance with traffic regulations and improved road safety awareness.
Providing a global perspective, Attah disclosed that more than 50 million people had lost their lives in road traffic crashes since the first recorded road fatality, while hundreds of millions of others had sustained varying degrees of injuries.
She said the alarming global situation, particularly its impact on children and young people, informed the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, which seeks to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
Presenting Nigeria’s road traffic crash statistics, the FRSC Sector Commander revealed that the country recorded 10,617 crashes in 2023, resulting in 5,081 deaths and 31,874 injuries.
She explained that although the number of crashes declined to 9,570 in 2024, representing a 10 per cent reduction, fatalities increased by seven per cent to 5,421, while 31,154 people sustained injuries.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Taraba State Council, Comrade Sule Agyu, assured the FRSC command of the union’s full support in disseminating road safety information to the motoring public.
Agyu gave the assurance during a media partnership programme organised by the FRSC Taraba State Command in collaboration with the NUJ State Council at the Press Centre in Jalingo to mark the 2026 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
He described the partnership as timely, noting that the ember months were usually characterised by increased traffic activities and road crashes.
