The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr. Usman Baba, has ordered the immediate evacuation of all impounded vehicles and unregistered exhibit from police stations across the country.
The Acting Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Adejobi said that the order followed the unprofessional manner the vehicles were stacked within police facilities, causing nuisance and disgusting sight.
He said the I-G had expressed dissatisfaction over the practice of stockpiling vehicles recovered from crime scenes or those whose ownership was being contested.
He said the situation had been made worse by stringent requirements and cumbersome processes for the rightful owners of the vehicles to reclaim them.
”The act will no longer be tolerated as it is tantamount to gross abuse of administrative and judicial processes,” he said.
The spokesperson said the I-G had directed heads of police stations and formations to embark on due process to carry out the needful evaluation and release the vehicles on bond to their owners.
He said that the directive was part of efforts by the I-G to ensure conducive working environment for police personnel and to set in motion, strategies to combat crime and criminality in the country.
He further said that the decongestion of police stations and facilities nationwide would be of great operational advantage to the Force to effectively deliver on its policing responsibilities and giving succour to the owners of such exhibit vehicles.
He, however, called on concerned members of the public to approach the various police formations for the recovery and claims of their vehicles, with valid proof of ownership and proper means of identification.