The Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Biu, on Sunday, ordered sector commanders to immediately set up a joint task force to conduct special patrol operations that would apprehend trailers and trucks carrying humans and animals.
The joint task force comprises the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Army, Vehicle Inspection Office and state governments.
In a statement on Sunday, the FRSC spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem said the directive followed the death of 18 persons in a crash involving 65 persons which occurred at about 05:20 am on Sunday along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
No fewer than 27 persons sustained varying degrees of injury 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.
Kazeem stated, “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.
“Preliminary investigations into the two crashes and others revealed the following: the fatal crashes involved trailers carrying humans and animals, and the vehicles involved embarked on a night journey”.
Biu described the tragic incident as avoidable.
The Corps Marshal decried the nonchalant attitude of the drivers, noting that “the crashes could have been prevented if the drivers had taken adequate caution and obeyed simple traffic rules”.
“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”.
