Lost Talents on Our Roads: A Call to Remember, Support, and Act

By: Mohamed Malick Fall & Shehu Mohammed

Every day, lives are shattered. Dreams are cut short. Families are left in silence. On our roads, tragedy unfolds, not in distant lands, but in our own streets and communities. Children, young people, parents, neighbours—gone forever.

This is no ordinary loss. This is a pandemic of sorrow. A hidden crisis claiming millions each year. According to the WHO 2023 Global status report on road safety, road crashes claim approximately 1.19 million lives and injure nearly 50 million people annually, with the greatest burden borne by low- and middle-income countries.

In Africa, road traffic remains the leading cause of death among youth aged 5–29, with pedestrians and cyclists among the most vulnerable. Each number is not just a statistic; it is a life, a story, a promise unfulfilled.

On this World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, we pause, remember, and mourn. But remembrance is not enough, we must act.

In Nigeria, every life lost on the road is a talent lost to our nation: a young person, a parent, a worker, taken too soon. A quiet room where laughter once lived. A deserted playground.

An empty stage. These are the spaces where absence speaks the loudest.
Road traffic injury is one of the leading causes of death for children and young people; the leaders, innovators, artists, teachers, and builders of tomorrow. When we lose them, we lose potential, progress, and hope.

Too often, our response is muted. Laws are weak, enforcement is inconsistent, and road deaths are treated lightly. A crash is called an “accident,” as if fate alone is to blame. But we know better: these are preventable tragedies. Every crash has a cause. Every injury leaves a mark that can last a lifetime.

We must acknowledge the tireless work of emergency responders, police, paramedics, and doctors. They face heartbreak daily, rushing to scenes of carnage, lifting bodies, comforting the wounded, offering solace where sorrow overwhelms. They are heroes, but even their courage cannot compensate for unsafe roads and broken systems.

The World Day of Remembrance calls on us to Remember. Support. Act. We remember the lives lost. We support those left behind—the families, the injured, and the communities. We act with urgency, compassion, and resolve.

Action begins with awareness. Every road user must understand that safety is a shared responsibility. Roads are not racetracks. Vehicles are not weapons. Speed kills. Distraction kills. Carelessness kills. Respect saves lives.

Action requires enforcement. Traffic laws must be clear, fair, and applied consistently. Speed limits are lifelines. Seatbelts, helmets, and child restraints are shields against death. Every driver, passenger, and cyclist must feel the weight of responsibility.

Action demands infrastructure. Safe roads, clear signs, pedestrian crossings, street lighting, and proper markings save lives. Governments, communities, and civil society must design roads that protect rather than endanger.

Action calls for empathy. Victims and their families deserve support, psychological care, medical aid, legal assistance, compensation, and recognition. The pain of loss should never be deepened by neglect.

On this day, we honor those taken too soon and the resilience of those who survive. We pledge not to let their talents vanish into silence. Their stories will guide us; their memory will drive us to change.

Every life saved is a victory. Every law enforced is progress. Every child protected is a promise kept. We have the knowledge, the tools, and the will. What remains is action; bold, urgent, persistent.

To the families of those lost: your grief is seen. Your sorrow is shared. Your loved ones are not forgotten. Their memory lives in every campaign, every policy, every act of prevention.

To our leaders: the cost of inaction is measured in lives; the cost of indifference, in tears. Invest in road safety. Strengthen laws. Build safer streets. Educate citizens. Every measure matters. Every moment counts.

To every citizen: your choices matter. Your speed matters. Your attention matters. One second of caution can save a lifetime. One act of responsibility can prevent unimaginable pain.

On this World Day of Remembrance, we say again: Remember. Support. Act. Not tomorrow, not later, but today.
Let us turn grief into resolve, loss into action. Roads must become safe again. Talents must not be lost again. Lives must be valued. Families must be spared. Together, we can rewrite the story of our roads.

Remember the lost. Support the living. Act to prevent more heartbreak. Every life matters. Every family matters. Every future matters.
Mr Mohamed Malick Fall is the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria while Mr Shehu Mohammed (mni) is the Corps Marshal/ CEO of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)

Lost Talents on Our Roads: A Call to Remember, Support, and Act

Army trolls in Adamawa arrest major drug supplier to terrorists

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested a suspected major drug supplier to Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists operating across parts of Borno and Adamawa.

The suspect, identified as Zubairu Muhammad, 45, was arrested at about 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday by troops of 232 Battalion (Tactical), Uba, Adamawa State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that Muhammad is believed to be one of the major suppliers of cannabis sativa and crystal meth (popularly known as ICE) to terrorists through the Askira-Uba, Chibok, Michika and Damboa corridors.

According to the source, the troops recovered 14 blocks of cannabis sativa valued at over N1 million, and 43 grams of ICE, valued at more than N3 million, from the suspect.

He was also found with two Army camouflage T-shirts, which he allegedly used while delivering illicit substances to terrorists.

The source said preliminary investigation had been concluded, and that the exhibits would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Yola Command, for further action.

Army trolls in Adamawa arrest major drug supplier to terrorists

Stop rascally behavior and reckless driving on maiduguri roads…Gubio warns keke napep riders

By: Bodunrin kayode

Chairman Borno State Civil Service Commission Dr Bulama Gubio has called on young people in the state to reduce their irresponsible actions with keke NAPEP during weddings and related ceremonies which makes them over excited and drive recklessly in the streets of maiduguri.

Dr Gubio is miffed about the excesses of the younger generation mostly keke napep drivers who use the tricycle as an excitement toy driving with reckless abandon sometimes killing themselves in the process without fear of reprimand.

Gubio who is a member of the Borno state traditional council and secretary of the elders forum in the state called on the federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) to work on the annoying excesses of the Keke napep riders who have caused a lot of trouble for commuters in the state capital adding that they operate with a lot of impunity which is not found in the pattern of the government drivers whom he said were better behaved.

Dr Gubio asked the FRSC to increase the enlightenment of even the resident commuters on the use of the commercial keke riders even as they entrust their lives into the hands of the the reckless riders among them because some of them are definitely on induced substances before they come into the roads breaking traffic and driving very roughly even contesting the major roads with bigger cars and sometimes killer trailers.

Dr Gubio actually made these remarks during the 2025 special marshals sectoral workshop, RS12.2 of the Borno state command held this week at the Elkanemi Hall of the State owned Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri.

Also admonishing the gathering on the use of Borno roads, Sector Commander of the FRSC Usman Mohammed condemned the behavior of some of the keke napep riders in the state capital describing them as down right recalcitrant elements.

He regretted that in their obstinate posture towards any form of control, a lot of them have fallen under the hammer of stiff fines sometimes as high as N50,000 for offenses yet they continue to repeat the same charges even when driving passengers.

Mohammed told this reporter that with the increased security in the state capital, his team will continue to do their lawful best to reduce the unnecessary carnage on the major roads of the Maiduguri metropolis and even the adjoining highways to the zones.

He decried the lingering excesses of the Keke napep riders within the Maiduguri metropolis adding that most of them are just stubborn and would not take instant correction which is why he sometimes had to stop traffic himself, arrest erring ones and give them on the spot education and correction for their offenses.

The Sector Commander said that because of their high number in terms of population, his men are on high alert with other collaborating agencies to stem the tide of these numerous excesses of these riders with a view to reduce same to the barest minimum.

On the alleged sluggishness of the union leaders to control their erring members, he maintained that they have been doing their best because some of them even boy-cut registration to avoid being caught making it an endless litany of woes coupled with the burden of facing another new set of wrong doers mobilizing into the highways each new day which is really tedious.

He added that it was not true that the excesses of the riders was due to the unenlightened nature of the leaders as posited by road watchers adding that the leaders are enlightened, but its just that the riders are recalcitrant by the way they go about driving their tricycles recklessly in the town.

“Since we cant get all of them at the same time, what we do is to stop four or five of them at the same time. I have stopped many in that pattern to talk to them and they listen to my lectures on their wrong doings and some do repent.

“Without mincing words, just recently, we arrested over seven of them because of unnecessary over loading etc. We have brought out a time schedule to make them fall in line to see how we can correct some of these excesses. So we are doing a lot to sort out these challenges.

” As a matter of fact, some of their union officials have come to commend us that they are very happy with the way we are going about handling the recalcitrant ones among them.

On enlightenment of the officials,” you see they are home based, they have limits with which they can handle these keke napep members who are committing all these offenses on our roads, however, we have been having enlightenment campaigns on these riders and we do hope to get there one day.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the workshop, the State Coordinator, special marshal RS12.2 Borno sector command, Mohammed Dahaya commended road users in the society for gracing the 2025 Special Marshals bi-annual Sectoral Workshop adding that their presence, despite the economic and security challenges coupled with their regular tight schedule is a testimony of their love for the FRSC as well as their commitment to safety of lives and properties on our roads.

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He said that the Special Marshals were a group of Volunteers, established under section 10(1) of the FRSC statute, as defined in the FRSC establishment Act 2007 adding that the roles and constitutional responsibilities of Special Marshals include Advocacy and support, Patrol Operations, Enforcement and Education in all ramifications of human activities without any pecuniary interest, meaning they are not paid for the services rendered to the society.

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‎Special Marshals he noted believe that the beauty of life doesn’t depend only on how happy you are but how happy you make others which is why, the most impactful thing to do in life is to help someone in need stressing that the worth of life is not in its duration but in its donations to humanity.

‎”we still need the support of all, morally and financially to be able to achieve our desired goals and objectives for efficient and effective services to humanity.
‎Your labour of love will not be in vain.” He concluded.

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‎Present at the occasion were several dignitaries including the representatives of the Ministry of Transport And Energy, Aliyu Buba, The General manager, Borno Express Transport Corporation, Grema Kyari, The Vice Chancellor Kashim Ibrahim University, Prof. Babagana Gutti, Special Marshal Engr. Shettima Abdullahi and The Chairmen NARTO Borno State Council Jidda Bishara.

Stop rascally behavior and reckless driving on maiduguri roads…Gubio warns keke napep riders