The Benue State Police Command has announced plans to begin a statewide enforcement exercise targeting vehicles with covered, obscured, defaced or unauthorised number plates, as well as unregistered vehicles, as part of efforts to strengthen security and curb criminal activities across the state.
The Command said the operation is in line with a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, aimed at enforcing existing laws on vehicle registration and identification.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, the Command said the exercise will commence immediately across the state to address security concerns associated with the use of such vehicles by criminal elements to evade identification and carry out unlawful activities.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Cletus Nwadiogbu, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders to ensure the directive is implemented strictly, professionally and in a coordinated manner across their respective jurisdictions.
According to the Command, the use of unregistered vehicles and those with concealed or altered number plates undermines law enforcement efforts, hampers crime detection and investigation, and poses a serious threat to public safety.
Vehicle owners were therefore advised to ensure their vehicles are duly registered and fitted with valid, officially issued and clearly visible number plates. Motorists were also urged to keep their vehicle documents up to date and readily available for inspection when required.
The police assured residents that the enforcement exercise is not intended to inconvenience law-abiding citizens but is a proactive measure to improve public safety and strengthen security operations across the state.
Nwadiogbu also warned officers deployed for the operation to conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the law, stressing that any personnel found engaging in extortion, harassment or other forms of misconduct would face disciplinary action.
The Command further urged residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies by reporting suspicious persons, vehicles and activities to the nearest police station or through its emergency lines, noting that security is a collective responsibility.