More than 50 people reportedly lost their lives in road crashes and other preventable incidents across Delta State between July and the second week of September 2026, prompting the police to launch a statewide enforcement operation against reckless driving and other traffic violations.

The Delta State Police Command said it would commence Operation Velvet today (Tuesday), targeting motorists who drive against traffic, use unregistered vehicles or violate other road safety regulations on highways and major roads across the state.

The spokesperson for the command, Bright Edafe, disclosed this yesterday, expressing concern over the rising number of fatalities and warning motorists that the command would no longer tolerate dangerous driving practices.

According to Edafe, many of the deaths recorded during the period were linked to road traffic crashes and other preventable or induced incidents, stressing that greater caution by motorists and other road users could have saved lives.

He particularly warned motorists against driving against traffic, popularly known as “one-way,” saying any driver caught violating the rule would be arrested and prosecuted.

Edafe said the enforcement was not intended to inconvenience law-abiding motorists, but to protect lives and restore discipline on the state’s roads.

He also directed vehicle owners and operators to ensure that their vehicles were properly registered and complied with all statutory requirements before being put on the road. “There will be no mercy for anyone caught,” he warned.

The police spokesperson said the operation would cover highways and major roads across the state, with officers directed to enforce traffic regulations without fear or favour.

He appealed to motorists, transport operators and other road users to take the warning seriously and cooperate with officers deployed for the exercise.

Edafe said the command would sustain the operation to curb reckless driving and other activities capable of causing avoidable deaths, stressing that the ultimate objective was to make Delta’s roads safer for everyone.