Police Step Up Crackdown on Illegal Number Plates, Siren Abuse in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command has intensified enforcement against vehicles using illegal or improperly fixed number plates, the abuse of temporary plates, and the unauthorised use of sirens and amber lights across the state.

The command has also begun intelligence-driven checks on vehicles bearing fake, altered, covered or invalid number plates, as well as those unlawfully operating with car dealers’ plates.

Confirming the development in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the move was part of ongoing efforts to protect lives, prevent crime and enhance public safety in the state.

Babaseyi explained that such vehicles are often exploited by criminal elements and pose serious risks to road users. He warned that offenders would be identified, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with existing laws to promote road safety and deter criminal activity.

He added that specialised units, including the Motor Traffic Department, Monitoring Unit and the X-Squad, have been deployed to ensure professional and lawful enforcement of the exercise. Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers, he said, are supervising operations within their respective jurisdictions to ensure fairness, transparency and strict compliance with approved guidelines.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Lanre Ogunlowo, appealed to members of the public to cooperate with police officers by obeying traffic and safety regulations and avoiding the use of suspicious vehicles.

Ogunlowo advised residents to patronise only recognised motor parks and designated pick-up points, stressing that the enforcement drive is aimed at preventing crime, maintaining public order and safeguarding lives. He also urged residents to report suspicious activities or security concerns through the command’s emergency lines.