By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has commenced a statewide enforcement exercise against the use of unregistered vehicles and concealed, defaced or altered number plates, warning motorists to comply with extant laws or risk appropriate sanctions.
The development was contained in a press statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who said the exercise followed a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, aimed at addressing growing security concerns associated with unregistered vehicles and concealed registration numbers.
According to the statement, the enforcement seeks to curb the increasing cases of vehicle owners deliberately concealing their registration numbers, a practice the Police said hampers identification, frustrates crime detection and weakens public safety efforts.
The Command therefore officially declared that it has officially commenced enforcement against the use of unregistered vehicles as well as the concealment, defacement, alteration, obstruction or unauthorized modification of vehicle registration number plates across Anambra State.
SP Ikenga, in the statement, urged vehicle owners and users to ensure that their vehicles are duly registered and that their number plates are properly displayed and remain clearly visible at all times in accordance with the law.
He emphasized that acts such as covering, bending, removing, altering, defacing or using unauthorized number plates constitute violations of the law and would attract the necessary legal consequences.
The Police spokesman further quoted the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, as saying that the enforcement exercise is designed to strengthen security architecture in the state by enhancing intelligence gathering and enabling security agencies to promptly identify vehicles used in criminal activities.
According to the Commissioner, effective vehicle identification remains a critical component of modern policing, as it aids investigations, supports surveillance operations and improves the overall response to security threats.
The Command therefore appealed to motorists and vehicle owners to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies by complying with all vehicle registration requirements and refraining from any act capable of concealing the identity of their vehicles.
The Police also assured residents that officers deployed for the exercise have been directed to conduct themselves professionally, courteously and strictly within the confines of the law while carrying out their responsibilities.
While the primary aim of the enforcement is to promote public safety, strengthen crime prevention strategies and discourage the use of anonymous vehicles for criminal purposes; SP Ikenga also reaffirmed the commitment of the Anambra State Police Command to ensuring the safety and security of residents and visitors, further noting that compliance by motorists would significantly enhance the effectiveness of security operations across the state.
