The Imo State Police Command says it has impounded more than 25 vehicles for operating with covered, obscured, or no registration plates as it intensifies the enforcement of traffic laws aimed at tackling crime across the state.

The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Audu Garba Bosso, said the exercise is part of a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to strengthen public safety, improve intelligence gathering and deny criminals the anonymity often used to perpetrate crimes.

Bosso stated this during a press briefing at the Imo State Police Command Headquarters in Owerri on Friday.

He explained that the enforcement is backed by the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, which require every vehicle to display valid and clearly visible registration plates, adding that the police derive powers from the Constitution, the Police Act 2020 and other extant laws to enforce compliance in the interest of public safety and national security.

According to him, operational experience shows that kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists and other criminal elements frequently use vehicles with covered, obscured or missing number plates to conceal their identities, evade detection and frustrate law enforcement efforts.

“We will not allow such practices to undermine the security of Imo State,” the police commissioner said.

Bosso said he has directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Tactical Commanders and other officers on patrol across the state to intensify the enforcement in a firm, professional and intelligence-driven manner while respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens.

He added that all violators, regardless of their status or position, will face prosecution in accordance with the law.

The commissioner revealed that more than 25 vehicles have already been impounded since the commencement of the operation, while their owners are being profiled and appropriate enforcement actions taken.

He dismissed concerns that the exercise is intended to harass motorists or encourage extortion, insisting that it is purely a proactive security measure designed to improve vehicle identification and traceability, deter criminal activities and enhance public confidence in the state’s security architecture.

Bosso urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are properly registered and display clearly visible registration plates at all times, advising owners of damaged, obscured or missing number plates to regularise them without delay.

He also appealed to residents to support the police with timely and credible information on suspicious persons, vehicles and activities, stressing that security remains a collective responsibility.

The police commissioner reiterated the command’s commitment to proactive policing, saying it will continue to deploy all lawful measures to safeguard lives and property across the state. (Channels TV)

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