Lagos Police Seize 50 Vehicles as Statewide Crackdown on Covered Number Plates Begins
The Lagos State Police Command on Monday impounded no fewer than 50 vehicles during the first day of a statewide enforcement operation targeting motorists driving with covered, obscured, unauthorized, or missing number plates.
Leading the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, alongside senior officers of the command, commenced the exercise at about 6:00 a.m., traversing major routes from the Mainland to the Island and concluding in Ikoyi.
Speaking with journalists after the operation, CP Tijani disclosed that approximately 50 vehicles had already been impounded across different parts of Lagos, noting that the figure was expected to rise as more vehicles were being processed at divisional and area command levels.
“Some are still coming in because others are at the divisional level or area commands,” he said.
The police chief warned that owners of impounded vehicles could face prosecution as part of efforts to deter motorists who failed to comply with previous warnings issued by the command.
According to him, vehicles with covered or concealed number plates pose significant security threats, as they can easily be exploited by criminal elements while evading identification by surveillance cameras and law enforcement agencies.
“If criminals use vehicles with covered plates for crime, even our cameras cannot capture anything. If the vehicle is stolen, tracking becomes nearly impossible,” CP Tijani explained.
The enforcement exercise follows a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, mandating police commands nationwide to intensify action against vehicles operating with covered, obscured, or unauthorized registration plates.
The Lagos State Police Command had earlier announced June 15 as the commencement date for the operation and advised motorists to ensure that their vehicle number plates remain valid, visible, and unobstructed at all times.
Describing the exercise as a sustained security initiative, the Commissioner warned that the operation would continue across the state.
“This is a note of warning to all motorists who think this is a joke. We are serious, and this will be a continuous exercise,” he stated.
The enforcement team included the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Area Commanders, and Divisional Police Officers, who participated in the statewide operation aimed at strengthening public safety and enhancing crime prevention across Lagos.