THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has warned motorists and vehicle owners in the nation’s capital against using vehicles without valid licence plates, as well as those with concealed, defaced or deliberately faded number plates.
News Point Nigeria reports that the warning particularly targets persons driving SUVs, except top government officials, as the command intensifies enforcement of vehicle identification regulations across the FCT.
The command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, adding that motorists were also warned against using fake diplomatic number plates or diplomatic plates by unauthorised persons within the FCT.
Adeh said the warning was issued by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, following the “proliferation of such vehicles, which have been observed to be used by criminal elements to evade detection, identification and arrest during and after the commission of offences.”
According to the statement, “The Federal Capital Territory is a peculiar environment where the use of such vehicles poses significant security concerns, as it may hinder effective identification and tracking by law enforcement agencies.”
The Commissioner of Police, therefore, warned that motorists found operating such vehicles in violation of the law would be arrested and prosecuted immediately in accordance with the law.
Adeh added that the commissioner had also directed all police officers across the FCT to intensify enforcement and ensure strict compliance with extant laws governing vehicle identification and the use of tinted glasses.
“Officers have also been directed to conduct such operations professionally and refrain from using the exercise as a means of extortion,” she said.
The police spokesperson urged FCT residents to report suspicious vehicles or activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency numbers, 08032003913 and 08028940883.
The command said the enforcement is aimed at strengthening vehicle identification, improving the ability of security agencies to track suspicious vehicles and preventing criminals from exploiting vehicles with concealed or fake registration details to evade detection.
