IGP orders nationwide seizure of vehicles without number plates

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu has ordered police operatives nationwide to henceforth begin to stop and impound and vehicle they found without approved registration plates or those with tampered registration details.

The owners of such vehicles will also be subjected to appropriate legal procedures for sanctions.

Disu issued the directive during the monthly conference with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday.

Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid said in a statement that the IGP at the meeting directed intensified enforcement against vehicles operating without registration number plates, as well as those with concealed, altered, defaced, or otherwise obscured registration numbers.

According to him, the IGP described the growing trend of vehicles operating without proper registration or with deliberately concealed number plates as unlawful and a serious threat to public safety and national security.

“He emphasized that vehicle registration remains a critical component of crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and law enforcement, noting that criminal elements often exploit anonymous vehicles to perpetrate offences and evade detection.

“Consequently, all Police Commands have been directed to immediately commence enforcement operations against offending vehicles across the country.

“Any vehicle found without approved registration plates or with tampered registration details will be stopped, impounded, and subjected to the appropriate legal processes in accordance with extant laws,” Placid said.

He further quoted the IGP as urging all vehicle owners to ensure compliance with registration requirements while warning that there would be no preferential treatment in the enforcement of the directive.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to strengthening public safety, supporting national security objectives, and enforcing all lawful measures designed to prevent crime and protect citizens,” the Force Public Relations Officer concluded.