- Safiu Kehinde
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered the seizure of all unregistered vehicles and those with defaced plate numbers.
Disu also extended the directive to those with concealed or defaced plate numbers.
The police chief gave the order while addressing newsmen at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
He maintained that the Nigerian Police Force will no longer tolerate such act of impunity.
“Across several part of our country, we have observed an increasing number of vehicles being driven without registration numbers as well as vehicles which number plates are deliberately concealed, defaced covered or altered in an attempt to evade identification.
“This practice is unlawful, irresponsible, and unacceptable. I wish to state unequivocally that from today, the Nigeria Police Force will no longer tolerate such act of impunity.
“Every vehicle operating on our roads must be properly registered and must display approved registration number in accordance to the law.” He said.
Disu vowed that any vehicle found without number plate or concealed number plate will be impounded with its owner prosecuted.
He cited the spate of insecurity in Nigeria as reason behind the decision, .
“Any vehicle found without number plate or with deliberate, obscured, concealed, or tampered registration number will be stopped, impounded and subjected to the appropriate legal process.
“Vehicle registration is not merely an administrative requirement. It is critical component of crime prevention.
“Criminals, kidnappers, terrorists, and other offenders often exploit annonymous vehicles to perpetrate crimes and evade detection.
“I therefore call on all law abiding citizens to ensure that their vehicles are duly registered and compliant with the existing regulations.” He said.
The Police boss thereafter urged all senior officers to commence enforcement of the directives.
“All commissioners of police, tactical commanders, and heads of formations are directed to intensify enforcement operations against unregistered vehicles and vehicles with concealed registration numbers.
“There shall be no prefential treatment.” He added.