The Ondo State Police Command has arraigned 15 motorists arrested for operating vehicles with either covered or no registration number plates as it intensified the enforcement of the Inspector-General of Police’s directive on vehicle identification.
The command said the enforcement exercise, which began on June 22, 2026, was aimed at ensuring compliance with traffic regulations and preventing the use of unregistered vehicles for criminal activities.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the command said the operation was carried out across the state under the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu.
According to the statement, 15 vehicles found operating without registration numbers or with concealed number plates were intercepted during the exercise.
It added that after preliminary investigations, the vehicles were transferred to the State Traffic Department, while the owners were prosecuted before a competent court.
The Commissioner of Police explained that the ongoing enforcement was not intended to inconvenience law-abiding residents but to strengthen the state’s security architecture and improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to identify vehicles and their owners during criminal investigations.
He noted that vehicles without valid registration plates or with concealed number plates pose significant security risks, as they are often used by criminal elements to avoid detection.
The police commissioner urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are properly registered and fitted with valid number plates at all times, while also calling on road users to obey traffic regulations and cooperate with security personnel.
He assured residents that the command would sustain the enforcement exercise as part of efforts to protect lives and property and enhance public safety across Ondo State.