Nine individuals lost their lives, and 78 others sustained injuries in 13 road crashes involving 21 vehicles during the recent Sallah celebrations. The incidents affected 128 people in total, with 41 others rescued without injuries, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Acting Zonal Commanding Officer Leye Adegboyega reviewed the first three days of the FRSC’s special Sallah operation, which commenced on Friday. The operation covered major routes within the jurisdiction and aimed to reduce road traffic crashes and ensure prompt rescue services. Adegboyega stated that the command deployed 3,018 personnel, including 2,155 Regular Marshals and 863 Special Marshals, alongside 57 patrol vehicles, five ambulances, and two heavy-duty tow trucks.
Personnel patrolled approximately 65 major routes across the zone daily, ensuring visibility to mitigate speed-related crashes. Standby rescue teams were stationed across all commands for quick response to accident scenes.
“The 2024 Eid El Kabir Sallah Special Patrol Operation is scheduled to be held between Friday, June 14 and Friday, June 21, 2024, across the country. Zone RS11 Osogbo of the Corps, which comprises Osun, Ondo, and Oyo states, has keyed into the mission of the operation, which is to ensure a free flow of traffic, minimize the occurrence of RTCs, provide prompt rescue services in the event of crashes, and ensure timely clearance of obstructions on all major roads and critical corridors across the three states of the zone during and after the Sallah festivities,” Adegboyega stated.
The covered routes included:
- Ibadan-Lagos Expressway
- Ibadan-Ife Expressway
- Ife-Ilesa Expressway
- Ilesa-Ipetujesa-Akure Expressway
- Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway
- Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway
During the first three days of the operation, the following achievements were recorded:
- Arrest of 737 traffic offenders, who were contravened for 766 various traffic offences that could have led to avoidable road traffic crashes.
- Execution of 219 public enlightenment activities across news media, motor parks, churches, mosques, and other public places, emphasizing road safety and public awareness.
Despite the tragedies, the operation provided prompt rescue services to victims of the 13 road traffic crashes. The injured were swiftly transported to hospitals across the zone, maintaining a cordial relationship for their treatment.
Looking forward, Adegboyega appealed to the public to use roads responsibly and contribute to reducing the loss of lives and valuable property.