87 killed in Bauchi accident - FRSC

Eighty-seven people  died, while 377 were injured between January and June in Bauchi State, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said.

A copy of the FRSC road crash report for the period obtained by The Nation in Bauchi showed that there were 94 road crashes across the 20 local governments, involving 719 people.

These included 67 children, with seven of them killed. Thirty-three were injured.

The report showed that 154 vehicles were involved in the accidents.

It said the highest number of deaths was recorded in January, with 35 people killed and 61 injured in 13 accidents involving 130 people.

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June had the second highest number of casualties, with 13 killed and 59 injured in 18 accidents involving 141 people.

The report showed that May had the least number of casualties, with seven people killed and 57 injured in 13 accidents involving 94 people.

Addressing reporters in his office in Bauchi, the Sector Commander, Ibrahim Abubakar, said the corps had made efforts to reduce accidents.

He said crashes had reduced, except on Bauchi-Gombe and Bauchi-Jos roads. His words: “Road crashes in Bauchi have been on the low side, except on Bauchi-Gombe and Bauchi-Jos roads. These are places with almost daily crashes.

“The culprits are the Opel Vectra drivers. They are responsible for almost all the head-on collision on these high ways.

“Next to them are the Hummer bus drivers. I don’t know what is always the problem, but I think it is mostly drivers’ loss of control.”

Abubakar said the FRSC had offices in only 234 of the 744 councils in the country.

He urged the Federal Government to equip the FRSC with more workers and logistics to ensure safety on roads.

The sector commander said the five area commands had two functional operational vehicles each, adding that more were needed.

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