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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Rivers CP leads enforcement against covered, unregistered number plates

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Rivers State Commissioner of Police led an enforcement operation against vehicles with covered or unregistered number plates.
  • The exercise aims to enhance public safety and prevent criminals from concealing their identities, as such vehicles are often used in illicit activities.
  • Offenders were arrested and arraigned before a mobile court, with the police emphasizing strict compliance with the Inspector-General's directive.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, personally led a significant enforcement exercise targeting vehicles with covered, obscured, or unregistered number plates across Port Harcourt and its surrounding areas on Monday.

We are here to ensure that the directive of the Inspector-General of Police is fully complied with.

— Olugbenga AdepojuRivers State Commissioner of Police, explaining the purpose of the enforcement exercise.

The operation, which involved officers from the State Traffic Department and the Command’s management team, focused on strategic locations like GRA Junction along Aba Road and Ikwerre Road. Adepoju stated that the exercise strictly adheres to the directive issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, with the primary goal of bolstering public safety and thwarting criminal activities. "Vehicles operating without registration plates or with covered or obscured number plates will be impounded and their owners sanctioned accordingly," he warned.

Vehicles operating without registration plates or with covered or obscured number plates will be impounded and their owners sanctioned accordingly.

— Olugbenga AdepojuCommissioner of Police, detailing the consequences for violating number plate regulations.

Adepoju explained that intelligence reports indicate these vehicles are frequently employed in criminal operations, including the transportation of arms, kidnapping, and hit-and-run incidents. The obscured number plates make it difficult for victims and witnesses to identify perpetrators, hindering crime detection and vehicle recovery efforts. "If a vehicle is stolen or used in committing a crime, the number plate helps security agencies track and intercept it," the Commissioner noted.

These vehicles are also involved in hit-and-run incidents. When victims or witnesses attempt to identify them, they are unable to do so because the number plates are either covered or obscured.

— Olugbenga AdepojuCommissioner of Police, highlighting how obscured plates aid criminals.

While acknowledging that the first day of enforcement saw a significant level of compliance, Adepoju warned against any potential extortion by officers involved in the exercise. He also clarified a common misconception, stating that the existing restriction on tricycles and motorcycles operating between 10 pm and 6 am does not extend to minibuses, often referred to as Keke buses.

If a vehicle is stolen or used in committing a crime, the number plate helps security agencies track and intercept it.

— Olugbenga AdepojuCommissioner of Police, emphasizing the importance of number plates for crime detection.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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