The Enugu State Police Command has impounded 195 vehicles from motorists found guilty of violating road driving laws over cases of contravention in number plate regulations.
The operatives of the command, during a statewide enforcement exercise targeted at unregistered vehicles and those with improperly displayed identification plates arrested vehicle drivers who are unregistered, with bear covered, defaced, obscured, unauthorized or improperly affixed official number plates, as well as vehicles displaying only one number plate instead of the legally required front and rear plates.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said that the exercise was carried out in line with the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations and other extant laws aimed at enhancing public safety and strengthening security across the state.
Ndukwe disclosed that owners of the impounded vehicles would be charged to court and prosecuted in accordance with the law, stressing that the Command remains committed to ensuring strict compliance with vehicle registration and identification requirements.
Commenting on the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, commended officers involved in the enforcement for conducting the exercise professionally and urged motorists to comply with all laws governing vehicle registration and the proper display of number plates.
He warned that the Command would sustain the enforcement campaign and ensure that all violators are prosecuted, noting that failure to comply with the regulations poses significant security concerns.
The Commissioner explained that the enforcement followed a recent directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, mandating all State Police Commands to strictly enforce the nationwide ban on unregistered vehicles and prosecute offenders.
According to him, vehicles with concealed, altered or unauthorized number plates are frequently exploited by criminals to evade identification, thereby undermining public safety and law enforcement efforts.
Giwa also issued a stern warning to police personnel participating in the exercise, stating that any officer found engaging in extortion, harassment or any other form of misconduct would face severe disciplinary sanctions.
He urged motorists operating unregistered vehicles or using covered, defaced, obscured, unauthorized or improperly affixed number plates, except where expressly permitted by law, to immediately regularise their vehicles and comply with all applicable regulations to avoid arrest and prosecution.
The Enugu State Police Command reiterated that the enforcement exercise is part of ongoing efforts to improve security, enhance vehicle traceability and curb the use of unregistered or improperly identified vehicles in the commission of crimes across the state.