PORT HARCOURT, Rivers State — The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Tunji Disu, has personally led a special enforcement operation against covered, concealed, and unregistered vehicle number plates in Port Harcourt as part of a broader strategy to curb crime and enhance public safety across the state.
The operation, which took place on Monday at major intersections and checkpoints within the Port Harcourt metropolis, saw the police commissioner directing officers to stop vehicles with obscured, tinted, or missing number plates. Vehicles found in violation were impounded, and their occupants were subjected to routine searches and questioning.
CP Disu, addressing journalists at the scene, explained that the enforcement drive is not merely a traffic regulation exercise but a critical crime prevention measure. He noted that criminals, including kidnappers, armed robbers, and carjackers, frequently use vehicles with covered or fake number plates to evade identification before and after committing offences.
The commissioner stated that the command has received intelligence reports indicating that some criminal elements operating in Rivers State have adopted the practice of covering their number plates with plastic films, cloth, or paint to avoid being tracked by security cameras and patrol teams. He warned that such practices would no longer be tolerated.
According to CP Disu, the enforcement operation will be sustained across all 23 local government areas of the state, with mobile courts established to ensure swift prosecution of offenders. He added that vehicle owners found to have deliberately removed or defaced their number plates would face charges, and their vehicles would be impounded until proof of ownership and proper registration are provided.
The commissioner also revealed that the command has deployed additional patrol teams to major highways, including the East-West Road, Aba Road, and the Port Harcourt-Airport Road, where incidents of kidnapping and armed robbery have been reported in recent months. He urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are properly registered and that their number plates are clearly visible at all times.
The enforcement exercise drew mixed reactions from residents and motorists in Port Harcourt. Some commuters expressed support for the measure, noting that it would make it harder for criminals to operate with impunity. Others, however, complained that the operation caused significant traffic gridlock in the city centre, with some motorists spending over an hour at checkpoints.
CP Disu acknowledged the inconvenience caused but appealed for public understanding, arguing that short-term disruptions are a necessary price for long-term security. He assured residents that the police would work to minimise delays by deploying more personnel and using technology to screen vehicles more efficiently.
The Rivers State Police Command has also enlisted the support of the state government, local government authorities, and traditional rulers in sensitising residents about the importance of vehicle registration and the dangers of covering number plates. Community leaders have been urged to report suspicious vehicles within their domains to the nearest police station.
The enforcement drive against unregistered and covered number plates is part of a larger security strategy in Rivers State, which has experienced sporadic incidents of kidnapping, cult-related violence, and armed robbery in recent months. The police command has also intensified stop-and-search operations, raided black spots, and increased visibility patrols in vulnerable communities.
Human rights observers have called on the police to ensure that the enforcement does not become a platform for extortion or harassment of innocent citizens. They urged the command to deploy body cameras on officers involved in the operation and to establish complaint mechanisms for members of the public who experience abuse.
The Rivers State Government has expressed full support for the police initiative, with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s spokesperson stating that the administration is committed to providing the necessary logistics and equipment to sustain the operation. The government also pledged to work with the police to address any unintended consequences of the enforcement drive.
As the operation continues, motorists in Port Harcourt have been advised to regularise their vehicle documents and ensure their number plates are properly displayed. For now, the message from the Rivers State Police Command is unambiguous: covered and unregistered plates will no longer provide cover for criminals, and the full weight of the law awaits those who violate the rules.
