Taraba State recorded 115 road traffic crashes, resulting in 72 deaths and 374 injuries between January and October 2026, according to figures released by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), raising fresh concerns over road safety and the growing human cost of traffic accidents in the state.
Related: FRSC raises alarm as road crashes take toll on Nigeria’s youth population
Key Highlights
- Taraba recorded 115 road traffic crashes between January and October 2026.
- A total of 72 people lost their lives, while 374 others sustained injuries.
- FRSC Sector Commander Anna Atta disclosed the figures in Jalingo.
- Nigeria recorded 9,570 road crashes in 2024, resulting in 5,421 deaths.
- FRSC is strengthening its partnership with the media to promote road safety awareness.
- The United Nations aims to reduce global road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.
Behind the alarming statistics are families mourning loved ones, survivors battling physical injuries and psychological trauma, and communities struggling with the devastating consequences of road crashes.
The figures were disclosed by the FRSC Sector Commander in Taraba State, Anna Atta, during a media partnership programme organised in collaboration with the Taraba State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Press Centre in Jalingo.
The programme formed part of activities marking this year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash Victims.
Atta said the annual commemoration goes beyond remembering those who lost their lives in road accidents, stressing the importance of recognising survivors and families whose lives have been permanently affected by road tragedies.
She noted that road traffic crashes remain a major public health and developmental challenge, particularly for children and young adults.
Nigeria’s Road Accident Statistics Raise Fresh Concerns
The situation in Taraba reflects a wider road safety challenge confronting Nigeria and the international community.
According to Atta, more than 50 million people have died globally in road traffic crashes since the first recorded road fatality, while hundreds of millions of others have sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Nigeria’s road accident statistics also highlight the severity of the problem.
The FRSC Sector Commander disclosed that the country recorded 10,617 road traffic crashes in 2022, resulting in 5,081 deaths and 31,874 injuries.
Although the number of crashes declined by 10 per cent to 9,570 in 2024 compared with the previous year, fatalities increased by seven per cent to 5,421.
Another 31,154 people sustained injuries during the period.
The figures indicate that a reduction in the number of road crashes does not necessarily translate into fewer deaths, highlighting the need for stronger preventive measures and improved road safety enforcement.
Families Bear the Human Cost of Road Accidents
Beyond official statistics, road traffic crashes leave devastating and long-lasting consequences for individuals, families and society.
Families who lose breadwinners often face financial hardship, disrupted education and emotional distress. Survivors, on the other hand, may experience prolonged medical treatment, permanent disabilities and psychological challenges.
This makes the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash Victims particularly significant, as it provides an opportunity to honour victims, support affected families and renew calls for safer roads.
Atta also highlighted the United Nations Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, which seeks to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.
She stressed that achieving the target would require sustained commitment from governments, road safety agencies, motorists, transport operators, communities and other stakeholders.
Read also:
- FRSC Raises Alarm As Road Crashes Take Toll On Nigeria’s Youth Population
- Breaking: One Dead, Several APC Women Injured in Fatal Road Accident in Uyo
- FRSC Confirms No Life Lost In Crash On Enugu-Onitsha Expressway
FRSC Partners Taraba NUJ to Strengthen Road Safety Awareness
Recognising the importance of public enlightenment, the Federal Road Safety Corps has moved to strengthen its relationship with the media through a partnership with the Taraba State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Speaking at the programme, the NUJ Chairman in Taraba State, Sule Agyo, commended Atta for initiating the collaboration, describing it as an important step towards improving public awareness of road safety.
Agyo said the partnership would strengthen relations between the FRSC and journalists, enabling the media to provide residents with timely and accurate information on road safety matters.
The collaboration is expected to promote road safety education, public enlightenment and the dissemination of information capable of encouraging responsible road-use behaviour.
Urgent Action Needed to Reduce Road Crashes in Taraba
With 72 deaths and 374 injuries recorded in just 10 months, the road safety situation in Taraba State remains a serious concern requiring sustained attention.
While the FRSC’s partnership with the media provides an avenue for expanding public awareness, reducing road crashes will require continuous efforts from all stakeholders.
Public enlightenment must go hand in hand with responsible driving, strict compliance with traffic regulations and effective road safety enforcement.
Ultimately, the success of road safety campaigns should not be measured merely by the number of awareness programmes organised, but by their impact on motorists and the reduction of preventable deaths and injuries.
For the 72 people who lost their lives in Taraba’s road crashes between January and October 2026, the statistics represent lives cut short and families forever changed.
Their stories, alongside those of the 374 injured, serve as a painful reminder of the urgent need for safer roads and greater responsibility among all road users. For more updates, follow us on X.
