Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have assured travelers of adequate patrol and surveillance of highways across the country to ensure a hitch-free Easter.

To this end, the Benue State Command of FRSC said 1,400 marshals would be deployed to various points across the state to ensure effective patrol during the Easter.

Sector Commander, Chidiebere Nwonta, said the one week special patrol will begin on April 13 and end on April 18.

Nwonta said the command would also have expanded patrol throughout the Easter as “our men will work 24 hours daily.’’

He said the command was considering the high vehicular routes and had strategised to ensure sanity on those roads in the state.

“Our men will be posted to state and federal roads which include; Makurdi-Gboko, Makurdi-Naka, Makurdi Lafia and Makurdi-Aliade-Otukpo roads.

“Gboko-Katsina Ala-Taraba roads, Aliade-Otukpo-Otukpa roads, and all other routes will be monitored, the sector commander,’’ said.

According to him 18 vehicles, one ambulance and a tow truck have been stationed appropriately for emergencies.

“Our expectation this Easter is to have a stress-free traffic in Benue and to achieve that, we shall mobilise all that we have, personnel, logistics and the stakeholders too.

Similarly, the corps in Osun has expressed its preparedness to ensure zero tolerance of road accidents during the celebration.

Augustine Aipoh, the Zonal Commander of the Corps in Charge of Osun, Oyo, and Ondo said the command planned to deploy about 1,700 Special Marshals and 46 vehicles across the state to ensure safety of commuters and motorists.

He advised motorists in the state to cooperate with the Marshals and adhere to the highway codes during the period.

According to him, strict adherence by motorists will reduce carnages on the roads.

Aipoh urged motorists to ensure their vehicles were in proper condition before embarking on any journey.

The FRSC in Auchi also said it had deployed 18 personnel and 50 special marshals to patrol the Auchi-Benin highway to ensure safety during the Easter.

Unit Commander of the corps in Auchi, Moses Bature, said this while speaking in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo.

“In Auchi command, 18 officers and 50 special marshals have been deployed to patrol the highway during and after the Easter.

“The volume of vehicles that plies the road are so enormous that we need to be proactive to ensure the roads are safer for the people during this period,” he said.

Bature said the command had embarked on a full-scale enforcement to curb dangerous driving, overtaking as well as speed limit violation and overloading.

In the same vein, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Plateau Command said it had deployed 1,800 officers and men across the state to beef up security during the Easter period.

NSCDC Commandant, Plateau Command, Solomon Olasupo, said the majority of the personnel would be within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis.

The commandant explained that the personnel would be at strategic places such as recreational centres, churches and motor parks in order to forestall any breach of law and order.

He assured members of the public of the corps’ commitment to ensuring a peaceful Easter.

He advised residents in the state to be security conscious about movement of people around their surroundings.

The commandant also urged people to go about their legitimate businesses, but report any suspicious movements of groups or individuals to security agencies.