No fewer than 120 officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) lost their lives in the line of duty in 2025, as road crashes increased during the festive season.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the outcome of Operation Zero and the Corps’ overall 2025 performance.
He described the deaths as tragic and unacceptable. According to him, officers who enforce traffic laws now face growing danger from the same violations they work to prevent.
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Festive Crash Figures Show Increase
The FRSC analysed crash data between December 15, 2025, and January 15, 2026. The review showed a rise in road traffic incidents compared to the previous festive season.
Total crashes increased from 665 in 2024/2025 to 687 in 2025/2026, marking a 3.4% rise.
Fatalities also climbed from 571 to 597.
The number of injured persons rose from 2,462 to 2,522, while the total number of people involved in crashes increased from 5,761 to 5,942.
Rescue Operations Improve
Despite the higher crash numbers, the Corps recorded stronger rescue outcomes.
The FRSC rescued 2,792 victims without injury, compared to 2,697 in the previous festive period. Mohammed credited improved emergency coordination and faster response times for the progress.
Deadliest Highways Identified
The Corps Marshal identified major interstate corridors as the worst-hit routes. These include:
Zuba–Kaduna–Zaria – 39 deaths
Jos–Bauchi/Gombe–Darazo–Potiskum – 49 deaths
Abuja–Lokoja – 28 deaths
Benin–Asaba–Awka – 12 deaths
Mai Adua–Daura–Kazaure–Dambata – 18 deaths
He said most crashes resulted from speeding, dangerous overtaking, loss of control, tyre bursts, and brake failure.
“Speed remains the single greatest killer on Nigerian roads,” Mohammed stated. He added that speed violations accounted for 41% of recorded crash causes in December 2025.
Enforcement and Prosecution Rise
The festive operation also recorded higher enforcement activity.
Authorities apprehended 29,317 offenders, up from 28,170 in the previous year. Officers booked 33,190 offences, compared to 31,829 earlier.
Through mobile court operations, officials arraigned 1,276 offenders and secured 1,105 convictions during the period.
Growing Concern for Officer Safety
Mohammed warned that reckless driving habits not only endanger civilians but also put FRSC personnel at risk. Many officers patrol high-speed corridors daily, exposing them to preventable hazards.
He called on motorists to obey traffic rules, reduce speed, and maintain their vehicles properly to prevent further loss of lives.
