Insecurity: Police begin crackdown on unregistered vehicles, covered number plates in Osun

The Osun State Police Command, as part of efforts to strengthen security across the state, has commenced a statewide enforcement exercise against vehicles and motorcycles operating with covered, obscured, defaced, concealed, unauthorised, or unregistered number plates.

The Command said the operation followed a directive from the Inspector-General of Police and was aimed at enhancing public safety as well as preventing criminals from exploiting anonymity while carrying 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 in the field to impound offending vehicles and conduct thorough investigations in line with existing 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 displaying fake, improperly issued, altered, or other unauthorised registration number plates, warning that such violations would not be tolerated.

According to the Command, “motorists, transport operators, fleet owners, and members of the public are expected to ensure that their vehicles carry valid, duly issued, and clearly visible registration number plates at all times.”

The statement stressed that the operation was not intended to inconvenience law-abiding citizens but rather to improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies to identify vehicles, investigate crimes, and track criminal suspects across the state.

“This exercise is not intended to inconvenience law-abiding citizens but to enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies to identify vehicles, investigate crimes, track criminal suspects, and strengthen the overall security architecture of Osun State,” the police stated.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and called on residents to comply with the directive while providing credible and timely information to security agencies.

It added that officers deployed for the enforcement exercise had been instructed to conduct themselves professionally, courteously, and strictly within the ambit of the law.