Police Begin Crackdown On Covered, Defaced Number Plates In Benue

The Benue State Police Command has begun statewide enforcement exercise against vehicles operating with covered, obscured, defaced and unauthorised number plates.

The police said it would also go against unregistered vehicles in a move to strengthen security and enhance crime prevention across the state.

In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, the police said the operation was designed to address growing security concerns linked to the use of improperly registered vehicles by criminal elements to evade detection and carry out unlawful activities.

The statement said the exercise which started on Thursday followed a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, mandating strict enforcement of existing laws regulating vehicle registration and identification.

The commissioner of police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, has directed the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations, area commanders, divisional police officers and tactical commanders across the state to ensure the enforcement exercise is carried out professionally, effectively and in accordance with the law.

The command noted that vehicles without proper registration or those displaying covered, altered, or unauthorised number plates pose significant challenges to law enforcement agencies.

The police reassured the public that the enforcement exercise is not intended to harass law-abiding citizens but rather to enhance security and support ongoing efforts to combat crime throughout the state.

The statement further cautioned officers participating in the operation to conduct themselves professionally and respect the rights of citizens at all times, warning that any personnel found engaging in extortion, harassment, or other forms of misconduct during the exercise would face appropriate disciplinary action.