Bauchi State Sector Command of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) has raised the alarm over the incessant road accident in the state, revealing that 35 lives were lost in various motor accidents across the state in November 2021 alone.
The state Sector Commander, Yusuf Abdullahi, made the revelation on Saturday in Bauchi while speaking at a meeting of members of the special marshall of the sector.
Abdullahi lamented that the sad development shows the devil has taken over Bauchi roads in recent times, warning that urgent measures must be taken to reclaim the roads.
The Sector Commander, “I am very sorry to say, but the fact is that the devil has taken over our roads in Bauchi State. We really need to stand up and do something to reclaim the roads.
“The situation is so terrible, in November, it was a case of one death per day because we had not less than 35 deaths from accidents across the state. This is worrisome and disturbing, something has to be done quickly.”
While giving a breakdown of roads where accidents occurred in November, Abdulahi disclosed that both Bauchi-Kano road and Bauchi-Jos road recorded 15 deaths each and named Darazo-Dukku-Gombe road as another bad spot claiming lives in the state.
“On the Bauchi-Kano road, we had accidents that claimed over 15 lives involving lone accidents as well a Keke NAPEP which had a lone accident before an oncoming Sharon ran into it.
“On the Bauchi-Jos highway, we had a few head-on collision accidents involving mass transit buses which claimed not less than 15 lives with some of them burnt to ashes,” the sector commander disclosed.
He added that the bridge before Dukku, which he said had failed, was now a death trap for motorists plying the road.
He disclosed that “the sector command was able to get some empty drums from the FERMA office which were sand filled and placed strategically to serve as a caution to the road users.”
While lamenting that people have not been cooperating with the Corps in the state to checkmate incessant road accidents, Abdullahi said, “all the efforts of the sector to solicit support from individuals in the state on how to check the accidents have proven abortive.
“We had stakeholders meeting on the need for collaboration but it is a pity that no favourable response is forthcoming.”
He then called on the Special Marshall in the sector to always collaborate with the regular Marshall, saying that, “all the departments of the Corps are working for one goal: reduce road crashes, avoid deaths through accidents that are caused by the negligence of the road users.”
In his remarks, the state coordinator of the Special Marshall, Dr Kunle Gbadamosi, commended the sector commander for always supporting activities of the special Marshall unit, asserting that both are working together.
Gbadamosi submitted that something urgent needed to be done about the accidents on Bauchi roads immediately.
“We have to join hands to pray and intensify enlightenment and education of the road users on the need to be cautious while using the roads.
He then assured that his members are ever ready to work with the Corps’ operatives with a view to having a safe road and reducing deaths through unnecessary accidents.
