The Osun State Police Command, in a bid to reinforce security across the state, has launched an exercise across the state against vehicles and motorcycles operating with covered, obscured, defaced, concealed, unauthorised or unregistered number plates.
The Command said the operation was in response to a directive from the Inspector-General of Police to enhance public safety and to prevent criminals from exploiting anonymity to carry out unlawful activities.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ibrahim Gotan, had directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and officers on the field to impound offending vehicles and carry out detailed investigations in accordance with extant laws.
“The exercise is aimed at strengthening security, enhancing public safety and denying criminal elements the anonymity often exploited in the commission of crimes,” the statement read.
The police said the enforcement would also target vehicles with fake, improperly issued, altered or other unauthorized registration number plates warning that such violations would not be tolerated.
“The command has, therefore, directed the motorist, transport operators, fleet owners and members of the public to ensure that all their vehicles are duly registered with valid registration number plates that are clearly visible at all times,” the statement added.
The operation was not meant to inconvenience law-abiding citizens, but to improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to identify vehicles, investigate crimes and track down criminal suspects across the state, the statement added.
“This exercise is not meant to disturb law-abiding citizens but to improve the capability of law enforcement agencies to identify vehicles, investigate crimes, track criminal suspects and boost the overall security architecture of Osun State,” the police said.
The Command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged residents to comply with the directive, furnishing security agencies with valid and prompt information.
“The officers deployed for the enforcement exercise have been directed to conduct themselves professionally, courteously and strictly within the ambit of the law,” it said.
