The Nasarawa State police command has commenced an enforcement exercise against vehicles with covered or defaced number plates, fake registration numbers, and those operating without valid registration plates.

SP Rahman Nansel, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, announced this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lafia.

Mr Nansel said that the exercise was in line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, aimed at enhancing public safety and strengthening security across the state.

According to him, the command has observed with concern the increasing practice by some motorists of deliberately covering, altering, defacing, or completely removing vehicle number plates.

He said that such acts contravene the provisions of the Road Traffic Act and National Road Traffic Regulations, which require all vehicles to display authentic and clearly visible registration numbers at all times.

“The unlawful practice poses a serious threat to public safety and security.

“Covered or missing number plates hinder effective crime prevention, detection and investigation, making it difficult for security agencies to identify vehicles involved in criminal activities such as armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling and drug trafficking,” he said.

The police spokesman said the commissioner had directed all area commanders, divisional police officers, tactical commanders and officers attached to the traffic section to commence strict enforcement of relevant traffic regulations across the state.

He said that the operation would target vehicles with covered, altered, defaced or unreadable number plates, as well as those displaying fake, unauthorised or mismatched registration numbers.

Others, he said, include vehicles operating without front and rear number plates and any vehicle found to be in violation of existing vehicle registration laws.

Mr Nansel warned that owners and drivers of offending vehicles would face the full weight of the law, adding that such vehicles could be impounded, while offenders risk prosecution in accordance with extant regulations.

He advised vehicle owners and road users to register their vehicles through the appropriate authorities and ensure that standard number plates were properly displayed at both the front and rear of their vehicles.

The spokesman also urged motorists to remove any covering, tint, sticker or obstruction concealing registration numbers and report suspicious vehicles operating without proper registration to the nearest police station.

He assured residents that the exercise was not intended to harass law-abiding citizens but to strengthen security, improve accountability on the roads and support ongoing efforts to combat crime.

Mr Nansel appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders, transport unions, commercial drivers, motorcycle and tricycle operators, as well as other residents, to cooperate with police personnel during the enforcement exercise.

“Together, we can build a safer and more secure Nasarawa State for all,” he said. 

(NAN)