The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has recorded 597 deaths in road crashes in the 2025/2026 Operation Zero, which is usually between December 15, 2025, and January 15, 2026.
This is even as the FRSC rescued 2,792 victims of road crashes within the same period, reflecting improved rescue and emergency response outcomes.
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This was revealed by the corps marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, on Wednesday, in Abuja.
The FRSC boss said the number of persons involved increased from 5,761 to 5,942, while fatalities rose from 571 to 597, a 4.2 per cent increase, while injuries also increased from 2,462 to 2,522.
According to him: “An objective review of crash data for the period 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026, comparing the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 festive operations, reveals an increase across all major indices. Total road traffic crashes rose from 665 in 2024/2025 to 687 in 2025/2026, representing a 3.4 percent increase.
“The number of persons involved increased from 5,761 to 5,942, while fatalities rose from 571 to 597, a 4.2 per cent increase. Injuries also increased from 2,462 to 2,522. However, those rescued without injury rose from 2,697 to 2,792, reflecting improved rescue and emergency response outcomes.
“These figures demonstrate that while interventions saved lives, risky road user behaviour continues to undermine safety during peak travel periods.”
The corps marshal further stated that “analysis of Operation Zero for 2025/2026 shows that the most severe crashes were concentrated along key interstate and peri-urban corridors, with several single crash incidents resulting in mass casualties.
“Locations such as Benin-Asaba-Awka recorded 17 injured and 12 deaths; Zuba-Kaduna-Zaria recorded 67 injured and 39 deaths; while Jos-Bauchi, Gombe-Bauchi-Darazo-Potiskum claimed 49 lives, Abuja-Lokoja, 28 deaths, Mai Adua-Daura-Kazaure-Dambata 18 deaths, and Enugu-Umuahia-Aba recorded 11 fatalities.
“These largely avoidable crashes were primarily caused by speeding, dangerous overtaking, loss of control, tyre burst and brake failure—clear indicators of reckless driving and poor vehicle condition. From an enforcement standpoint, traffic violations increased alongside exposure. Offenders apprehended rose from 28,170 in 2024/2025 to 29,317 in 2025/2026, a four per cent increase, while recorded offences increased from 31,829 to 33,190, representing a 4.2 per cent rise. In response, the Corps intensified deterrence through mobile court operations nationwide, leading to the arraignment of 1,276 offenders, the conviction of 1,105 violators, and lawful discharge or acquittal of 171 persons. This reflects a deliberate shift toward firm, fair and visible enforcement as a behavioural control tool.
“Corridor-based analysis confirms that crash concentration remains highest along national mobility arteries.
“In December 2025 alone, the FCT Metropolis corridor recorded 97 crashes, followed by Zuba–Kaduna–Zaria with 86 crashes, and Lafia–Akwanga–Keffi–Goshen with 80 crashes. These same corridors also accounted for the highest fatality burden, justifying sustained patrol dominance, speed enforcement and targeted intervention along high-risk routes.”