The corps marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Ali Biu, has said that a total of 33 persons died in 62 road traffic crashes during this year’s Easter celebration.
Speaking during the press conference on the outcome of 2024 Easter and Eid-el-fitr special patrol operations that lasted from March 28 to April 2, and April 8 to 13, 2024, respectively, the corps marshal said: ” During the 2024 Easter Special Patrol period, the Corps recorded 62 road traffic crashes. This is against 107 in the same period of 2023, representing 42 per cent decrease. These crashes involved 417 people in 2024, in contrast to 705 in the previous year, also indicating a significant reduction of 40.9 per cent . The analysis also shows that of the aforementioned crashes, the Corps also recorded reduction in fatalities as 33 victims were killed in 2024 against 81 killed in the same period in 2023.This represents 59.3 per cent reduction.
“In the same vein, the Corps was also decisive in her rescue operations, as 195 people were rescued without injuries in 2024 against 345 in the previous year. This represents a drop of 43.4 per cent in number of people injured. At the same time, while 189 people got rescued without injury in 2024, a total of 279 people were rescued without injury in 2023, representing 32.3 per cent reduction.
“The record further discloses that during the 2024 special patrol a total of 4916 offenders were apprehended. This is in contrast to the 7110 recorded in 2023 representing 30.9 per cent decrease. In addition, the Corps has a record of 4319 offences during the 2024 outing, against a total of 8220 in 2023 indicating 47.5 per cent decrease. More so, the Corps also arraigned 66 traffic offenders in Court, convicted 61 and discharged five drivers.”
On the data for the Eid-el-fitr special patrol, the corps marshal said, “during the Eid-El-Fitr special patrol, the Corps recorded 42.5 per cent reduction in road traffic crashes, 39.6 per cent reduction in number of people involved, and 52.5 per cent reduction in number of people killed. Also, while 32.6 decrease was recorded in number of people injured, the Corps achieved 43.8 per cent reduction in number of people rescued without injuries.”
Speaking further, the corps marshal said: “Let me provide you with clearer picture in terms of the basic data for the sallah operations. In 2023, the Corps recorded 127 road traffic crashes, this number was reduced in 2024 to 73 representing 42.5 per cent reduction. In addition, while the total number of people killed in 2023 was 59, people killed in the same period in 2024 reduced to 28, signifying a drop of 52.5 per cent. In 2023, a total of 772 people were involved in aforestated crashes, while 466 got involved in 2024 representing 39.6 per cent reduction.
“Meanwhile, on injuries, the Corps recorded a total of 334 people rescued with injuries in 2023, this figure is against 225 recorded in 2024 representing 32.6 per cent decrease; while in 2023, 379 victims were rescued without injuries, the figure reduced to 213 in 2024 representing 43.8 per cent reduction.
“On offenders and offences, the Corps arrested 5629 offenders in 2023. This figure reduced in 2024 to 4815 signifying a drop of 14.5 per cent .These offenders committed 6654 offences in 2023 while in the same period of 2024 they committed 5721 representing 14 per cent decrease.”