Police impound 195 vehicles in crackdown on registration offenders in Enugu

By Stanley Nwanosike

Police operatives in Enugu State have impounded no fewer than 195 vehicles in enforcement of nationwide ban on unregistered vehicles and vehicles with covered, defaced, obscured, improperly affixed, unauthorised or missing number plates.

Enugu Police Command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe said this in a statement on Tuesday.

Ndukwe said that Enugu Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, personally led the enforcement.

Giwa speaking during the exercise said 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 affected vehicle owners would be charged to 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,” the CP said.

The Enugu Police 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 Enugu 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 any other form of misconduct during the exercise would face severe disciplinary sanctions.

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.

The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olatunji Disu, recently directed all state police commands to strictly enforce the ban and prosecute offenders in line with extant laws.

The I-G cited the security risks posed by such vehicles, their frequent use in criminal activities, and their violation of existing regulations as reason for the directive.

(NAN)