The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Abia State Sector Command, says it has commenced the second phase of Operation GUDUMA, a nationwide patrol used in tackling the increasing use of fake, covered, defaced, obsolete and unauthorised diplomatic number plates by motorists.
The crackdown was in response to a concern raised by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA about criminal elements.
A statement by the Sector Commander, Abia State Command of the FRSC, CC Ngozi Ezeoma, says the operations against the fake, defaced and unauthorized diplomatic number plates run from Monday to Friday this week.
She said that it was part of FRSC’s intensified efforts at addressing security concerns associated with the misuse of vehicle registration numbers and also strengthening safety and security across the nation’s highways.
“The operation follows concerns raised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) over the increasing use of fake and unauthorised number plates, which have reportedly provided opportunities for criminal elements to evade arrest and perpetrate unlawful activities.
“The Command is fully prepared to ensure effective implementation of the operation in line with the directives of the Corps Marshal”, she said.
According to Ezeoma, the operation will focus on the identification and apprehension of offending motorists and ensuring free flow of traffic along designated corridors among others.
Ezeoma emphasised that the exercise would be conducted in accordance with established operational procedures and professional standards.
She particularly noted that vehicles bearing diplomatic number plates would be approached with courtesy and handled in strict compliance with the applicable diplomatic protocols.
The exercise would be led in Abia State by ACM Oki Adetunji, a representative of the Corps Marshal.