Cross River Police Impound 25 Vehicles Over Illegal Number Plates in Calabar Crackdown

The Cross River State Police Command has impounded 25 vehicles in Calabar for operating without valid registration plates or using altered, covered, defaced and unauthorised dealer number plates during a targeted enforcement operation.

The exercise was carried out in compliance with a nationwide directive issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, aimed at eliminating the use of vehicles with concealed or irregular number plates that could aid criminal activities.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said the enforcement operation took place across the Calabar metropolis on July 3, 2026.

According to the command, 25 vehicles were intercepted for violating the directive. The owners have since been subjected to the necessary administrative and legal procedures and are being prosecuted in accordance with applicable laws.

Akata explained that the operation is designed to improve public safety by ensuring that every vehicle on the road can be properly identified. He noted that criminals often exploit concealed or fake registration plates to evade detection, making the enforcement exercise a critical security measure.

The police spokesperson reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing, adding that similar operations would continue across Cross River State.

He urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are properly registered and comply with all traffic and vehicle identification regulations to avoid penalties.

Akata also appealed to residents to support security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious persons, activities or emergencies through the command’s dedicated emergency lines.