By Gabriella Ogbu
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Tunji Disu, issued a directive on Tuesday mandating the impounding of vehicles lacking number plates across the territory.
In addition, Disu ordered the increased deployment of personnel and resources for patrols, stop-and-search operations, and surveillance throughout the nation’s capital.
This directive comes in response to the growing number of ‘one chance’ incidents, where criminals target unsuspecting commuters.
According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, enforcement will also focus on vehicles with covered number plates and tinted windows.
Adeh urged residents to be patient as these measures might cause some temporary disruptions for commuters.
She emphasized that the increased operations are part of a broader effort to tackle rising criminal activity, including car theft and fraudulent robberies.
“The FCT Police Command is deploying additional officers and equipment to carry out patrols and surveillance across the territory.
These operations are designed to curb the growing incidents of ‘one chance’ crimes and vehicle theft,” Adeh stated.
“We will be impounding vehicles without proper registration plates, those with only one plate, or vehicles with defaced plates.
We will also enforce regulations related to tinted windows and covered number plates,” she added.
While acknowledging that the operations might cause some inconvenience, Adeh reassured the public that these actions are critical to ensuring the safety of all residents and deterring crime.
Since the implementation of these measures, the police have recovered stolen vehicles and arrested suspected criminals involved in ‘one chance’ scams.
“We thank the public for their cooperation and patience during these operations. We encourage vehicle owners to adhere to all regulations to avoid penalties.
“The FCT Police Command is committed to maintaining a secure environment, and we urge residents to report any suspicious activities and assist our officers in ensuring everyone’s safety,” Adeh said.
