As part of its ember months traffic management strategy, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has launched Operation Safe Roads 2026 to reduce road accidents, fatalities and traffic congestion across the state from September to December.

The initiative, tagged “Safe Roads • Safe Drivers • Safe Vehicles • Safe Communities,” aims to intensify traffic law enforcement, enhance emergency response services and encourage responsible driving practices during the ember months.

The ember months is a period from September to December, which are usually characterised by increased travel for commercial, social, religious and festive activities, hence the establishment of the operation to curb crashes and enhance safety.

TRACE’s Most Senior Commander, Elias Omonayajo, said at the weekend that the initiative was launched to enhance road safety, ensure smoother traffic movement and encourage motorists to comply with established traffic regulations throughout the ember months.

Omonayajo said that the campaign, themed “Think Safety First, Act Safely Always, Return Home Safely Every Day,” would target major highways, urban centres, accident-prone areas and key transport corridors across Ogun State.

He explained that the operation would employ a coordinated, intelligence-driven and service-focused strategy, with personnel stationed at strategic locations to prevent avoidable road accidents and ensure swift responses to emergencies.

The commander explained that the agency would strengthen monitoring and enforcement measures against traffic offices identified as major causes of road accidents and traffic congestion.

He said that offenders would be penalised for violations susch as over-speeding, reckless driving, street racing, dangerous overtaking and other unsafe driving practices that could endanger the lives of the motorists and other road users.

Omonayajo said that the operation would also target unroadworthy vehicles, faulty tyres, defective braking systems, overloaded vehicles, improperly secured cargo and other mechanical defects that could compromise road safety.

He said that motorists found driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, using mobile phones behind the wheel, operating vehicles without valid documents, driving against traffic or flouting lane discipline would face stricter enforcement measures.

The commander said that the operation also focused on clamping down on other traffic violations, including failure to use seat belts, dangerous U-turns, disobedience to traffic signals, unauthorised driving on road shoulders, illegal parking, and improper loading and off-loading of passengers or goods.

He said that the agency would move against roadside trading and other activities that obstruct traffic movement, particularly around markets, motor parks, commercial centres and busy urban roads.

Omonayajo explained that the measures were intended not merely to punish offenders but also to prevent avoidable accidents, protect pedestrians and motorists, and ensure that roads remain accessible to emergency responders.

He said that priority would be given to areas including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abeokuta metropolitan corridors, interstate routes, major entry and exit points, accident black spots, motor parks, markets, commercial centres, major intersections and religious or event centres.

The commander said that high-risk locations are expected to receive round-the-clock or extended-hour coverage where necessary, particularly during periods of heavy traffic and increased movement of people and goods.

He added that the operation would feature round-the-clock patrols, rapid-response and accident-response units, traffic control teams, intelligence and public enlightenment units, as well as recovery and towing coordination teams.

The death toll of four people and other injured people from the gunmen attack on Friday night in Dorowa Babuje community in Barkin Ladi council of Plateau State has risen to seven.

It was alleged that gunmen stormed the community around 11pm and first attacked the vigilantes keeping watch over the area and killed four of them instantly , leaving others injured.

It was reported that the attack forced the residents to flee in different directions.

According to report,the vigilantes were protecting the community when the attackers struck and killed four of the vigilantes and six others were seriously injured as the local vigilantes could not match the superior fire power of the gunmen.

The incident was also confirmed by the National Publicity Secretary of Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) Rwang Tenhwong .

Condemning the killings,he described it as very unfortunate that community members keeping watch over their area had been targeted and massacred like that .

According to Tengwong, “We are deeply saddened by this latest attack and call on the relevant security agencies to urgently investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

He was very sympathetic, saying that residents could not continue to live in fear while those who volunteer to protect them are being attacked and killed.

Reports also indicate that out of those seriously injured during the Friday attack ,three of them later died in the process bringing the overall number of those who were killed in the process to seven.

According to the report, a resident of the area, simply named Mamuda, said three corpses were later brought from the community bush.

An 18-year-old woman, Fatima Dalha, has allegedly stabbed her 30-year-old husband in the stomach in Lirr Bajar, Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

She stabbed the husband during a disagreement over wrappers, a phone and some money she claimed belonged to her.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Nafi’u Habib, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Bauchi, said it occurred on Sunday, 25th October, 2026 at about 06:00 o’clock.

He said the argument between the couple turned violent after the wife took a knife and stabbed the husband in the stomach.

“In a moment of rage and desperation, Fatima reached for a knife lying close by and stabbed her husband in the stomach. The husband fell, bleeding. The neighbourhood erupted. An angry mob gathered, ready to lynch the young woman.

“Police operatives from Dass Division raced to the scene and saved her from instant jungle justice, while the wounded husband was rushed to a Hospital, where he is now receiving treatment.

“Behind the uniform, behind the case file, are two young lives, a marriage of barely months, now shattered by anger that could have been resolved with words.”

Habib said the suspect had been detained while the knife allegedly used in the attack was recovered, adding that the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Bauchi for discreet investigation.

According to the PPRO, the Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, expressed concern over rising domestic violence cases among young couples and advised couples to seek peaceful means of resolving disagreement, through family, elders and lawful channels, instead of resorting to violence.

He warned against jungle justice and reiterated the Command’s resolve to ensure justice is served professionally and humanely.