Gombe: FRSC records 82 road deaths, 134 crashes in 6 months
No fewer than 82 people had lost their lives in 134 road crashes involving 1,033 persons in Gombe State between January and June, says the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The Gombe State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Samson Kaura, disclosed this on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe.
Kaura said that 610 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries, while 341 escaped unhurt during the period under review.
According to him, 7.94 per cent of those involved in the crashes died, 59.1 per cent sustained injuries, while 33.01 per cent were unhurt.
He added that 196 vehicles were involved in the crashes, including 83 bicycles, motorcycles and tricycles, representing 42.35 per cent of the total number of vehicles involved.
A breakdown of the fatalities showed that 36 people died in January, four in February, six in March, 13 in April, 14 in May and nine in June.
The sector commander attributed the crashes largely to speeding, overloading and the use of worn-out tyres, which often resulted in tyre bursts.
He said the number of deaths recorded during this first half of 2026 represented a 12.2 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2025.
Kaura blamed the rise in fatalities on the growing practice of overloading vehicles.
“With just one crash, there can be multiple deaths because vehicles are now heavily overloaded with both passengers and goods,” he said.
According to him, some vehicles designed to carry no more than five passengers are sometimes loaded with as many as 15 people, making it difficult to distinguish the driver from the passengers.
He also expressed concern over trailers conveying goods, passengers and livestock to southern parts of the country, noting that crashes involving such vehicles often result in high fatalities.
The FRSC commander described speeding and overloading as dangerous practices that had become increasingly common among motorists.
With the rainy season underway, he urged drivers to exercise greater caution, warning that wet and slippery roads increase the risk of crashes.
Kaura also advised motorists to install speed-limiting devices in their vehicles to curb excessive speeding, saying that lower speeds could reduce the severity of crashes when they occur.
He further cautioned against overloading, stressing that it compromises vehicle stability and makes it more difficult for drivers to maintain control during emergencies.
The sector commander also warned motorists against using second-hand, locally known as “Tokunbo”, tyres, citing the safety risks associated with their unknown usage history and possible hidden structural defects.
