By JOY ADARA, Abuja –
As part of efforts to reduce road traffic crashes across the country, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Ali Biu has ordered sector commanders to immediately set up a joint task force comprising the Police, NSCDC, Nigerian Army, VIO and State Governments to conduct special patrol operations that will apprehend trailers and trucks carrying humans and animals.
Mr. Biu gave the directive in a statement issued by the Deputy Corps Marshal, Bisi Kazeem, on Sunday in Abuja.
The development according to the statement follows the death of 18 persons in a crash involving 65 persons which occurred about 05:20am today along Abj-Kad road.
No fewer than 27 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the road accident which occurred at Audu Jhangon village along the expressway on Sunday.
The injured have been taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.
The crash occurred when a DAF trailer with registration number KUJ 430XC overloaded with goods and humans lost control and fell into a ditch.
The latest incident is sequel to an unfortunate auto crash that similarly claimed 18 lives in Niger State.
The Corps Marshal, who received the report with dismay, described the tragic incident as avoidable.
Reacting to the incidents on Sunday, the Corps Marshal decried the nonchalant attitude of the drivers, saying the crashes could have been prevented if the drivers had taken adequate caution and obeyed simple traffic rules.
Preliminary investigations into the two crashes and others revealed the following:
The fatal crashes involved trailers carrying humans and animals.
.The vehicles involved embarked on night journey.
To reverse the trend, the Corps Marshal has directed Sector Commanders to immediately set up the joint task force that will impound and prosecute trailers and trucks carrying humans and animals.
The Corps Marshal also directed that a Mobile Court should be set up for immediate prosecution of traffic offenders upon the immediate commencement of this operation.
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