……………..The command says vehicles without valid plates, deliberately faded numbers and fake diplomatic plates are increasingly being used to evade identification and facilitate criminal activities in the nation’s capital.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of motorists found driving vehicles without valid licence plates, with concealed or deliberately faded numbers, as well as those using fake diplomatic registration plates.
The directive was issued by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, who expressed concern over the growing number of vehicles being operated without properly displayed registration numbers across the nation’s capital.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, the command said the warning became necessary following observations that such vehicles were being used by criminal elements to evade detection, identification and arrest during and after the commission of offences.
The command particularly raised concern over SUVs being driven without visible licence plates, except those operated by top government officials, and warned against the use of fake diplomatic number plates or such plates by unauthorised persons within the FCT.
According to the police, the use of vehicles without identifiable registration numbers presents a significant security challenge in the Federal Capital Territory, where effective identification and tracking of vehicles are important to law enforcement operations.
Sanusi therefore directed police officers across the FCT to intensify enforcement and ensure strict compliance with existing laws governing vehicle licensing and the proper display of registration plates.
He warned that motorists found violating the regulations would be arrested and prosecuted immediately in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner also directed officers carrying out the enforcement to conduct themselves professionally, stressing that the exercise must not be used as an avenue for extortion or harassment of motorists.
The command said the enforcement would form part of efforts to strengthen security within the capital and make it easier for law enforcement agencies to identify and track vehicles involved in suspicious or criminal activities.
It urged vehicle owners and motorists to ensure that their vehicles have valid licence plates that are clearly visible and properly displayed, while those using diplomatic registration numbers were advised to ensure that they were duly authorised to do so.
The FCT Police also called on residents to support its security operations, describing security as a collective responsibility between law enforcement agencies and members of the public.
Residents were further encouraged to report suspicious vehicles and activities to the nearest police station or contact the command through its emergency numbers, 08032003913 and 08028940883.
The warning was contained in a statement signed by Adeh, ANIPR, MIPRA, on behalf of the FCT Police Command and dated October 4, 2026.
