The police command in Enugu has impounded 195 vehicles for registration and number plate violations. This was announced in a statement by the command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe.

Mr Ndukwe said that the police commissioner, Mamman Giwa, led the enforcement.

Mr Giwa, speaking during the exercise, said the operation marked the professional enforcement of the nationwide ban on unregistered vehicles and on vehicles with covered, defaced, obscured, improperly affixed, unauthorised, or missing number plates across the state.

According to him, the operation resulted in the impounding of 195 vehicles for violating the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations and other extant laws.

He added that the owners of the affected vehicles would be charged in court and prosecuted accordingly.

“The impounded vehicles include those that are unregistered, bear covered, defaced, obscured, unauthorised, or improperly affixed official number plates, or have only one number plate instead of the legally required two,” Mr Giwa said.

The commissioner commended the enforcement personnel for conducting the operation professionally and reminded motorists of their obligation to comply with laws regulating vehicle registration and number plate usage.

He said that the command would sustain the enforcement and ensure that all offenders were prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He warned that any police officer found engaging in extortion, harassment, or other misconduct during the exercise would face severe disciplinary sanctions.

Mr Giwa also urged motorists operating unregistered vehicles or using covered, defaced, obscured, unauthorised, or improperly affixed number plates except as permitted by law to desist immediately and comply with all applicable regulations.

Inspector-general of police Olatunji Disu recently directed all state police commands to strictly enforce the ban and prosecute offenders in line with extant laws.

Mr Disu cited the security risks posed by such vehicles, their frequent use in criminal activities, and their violation of existing regulations as reasons for the directive.

(NAN)