The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has banned the use of Police vehicle with SPY number plates across the country, thereby ordering immediate seizure of all such number plates currently in use.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Wednesday said the move is to ensure internal security and respect for extant laws in the country. The Trumpet Gathered
According to Adejobi, the IGP directed officers attached to high profile personalities to ensure absolute compliance with the new directive or risk arrest.
“This order is necessary to forestall the continuous disregard for traffic rules and regulations and other extant laws guiding road use by individuals hiding under the privileges of SPY police number plates.
“The IGP has therefore directed that police officers and officers of other security agencies attached to VIPs who use the SPY number plates should ensure prompt compliance with this directive or risk being arrested for violation of the order.
“Meanwhile, the IGP has directed Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the thirty-six (36) States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), to give full effect to the directives as contained above.
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“The IGP specifically directed the AIGs and CPs to ensure that all SPY number plates currently in use are confiscated henceforth but the owners of such vehicles should not be arrested unless they are police officers or officers of other security agencies on escort duties.
“The IGP, however, warned that while carrying out these assignments, officers must ensure the rights and privileges of citizens are respected in line with the laws of the land and in accordance with international best practices,” Adejobi stated.
While enjoining other security agencies and members of the public to cooperate with the Police by obeying the new directive, the IGP said there is no exception whether the SPY number plates were initially authorised or not.
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