The Lagos State Police Command has impounded about 50 vehicles across Lagos during a statewide enforcement exercise carried out on Monday, June 15, 2026, targeting motorists using covered, defaced, obscured, or missing number plates.
The operation, led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, is part of a broader security directive aimed at improving public safety and preventing criminals from concealing their identities while using vehicles on public roads.
According to the Command, the enforcement aligns with a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and is expected to continue across the state as part of ongoing security monitoring efforts.
Speaking after the exercise, CP Tijani noted that some vehicles were still being processed at divisional and area command levels, adding that offenders may face prosecution to serve as a deterrent.
He stressed that concealed or fake plates create major security gaps, especially in tracking criminal activity and stolen vehicles. According to him, such practices make it difficult for surveillance systems and cameras to properly identify offenders.
“If criminals use vehicles with covered plates for crime, even our cameras cannot capture anything. If the vehicle is stolen, tracking becomes nearly impossible,” he said.
The Commissioner warned motorists, transport operators, and fleet owners that the enforcement is not a one-off operation but a continuous exercise.
He also urged vehicle owners to ensure their number plates are valid, clearly visible, and properly issued, while keeping all relevant vehicle documents up to date for inspection when required.
Officers involved in the operation included the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), area commanders, and divisional police officers.
The National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP, confirmed the development.
