The Inspector-General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba on Monday warned senior Police officers, Commissioners of Police in the country to stop allowing the parking of impounded vehicles by the Police in their stations.

Due to gruesome unceasing attacks on Police stations and other security formations in many parts of the country particularly in Imo and other southern states.

The IGP further directed the senior and strategic Police officers to ensure that the issuance of Spy plate numbers and tinted glasses by Police officers to vehicle owners is suspended right away.

The newly confirmed IGP gave the directive to the Police Officers including AIGs, Commissioners,  Deputy Commissioners, and Assistant Commissioners of Police at the second strategic conference of the IGP with the senior Police officers in Abuja.

According to the IGP, most senior Police officers still allow their officers to indiscriminately impound vehicles at Police stations unnecessarily and indiscriminately and many Police facilities are are gradually being turned into junk yards which it should not be.

He noted that there are many attacks on Police Station in recent times and such acts leading to impounding of vehicles creates vulnerabilities which often engender such attacks on Police facilities.

“In relation to our anti-seperatist operations in the South East and parts of the South South with the launch of special operation code named ‘Operation Restore Peace’ (Operation PR)  in Enugu for South East on Tuesday 18th May, 2021 and in Port Harcourt (for the South South Operational Theatre on Wednesday  19th May 2021), we have enhanced our capacity to repel attacks by secessiinists as well as to undertake proactive operations aimed at disrupting their destabilizing armed campaigns and with a view to restoring constitutional order” he  stated.

The Police boss urged the Police officers to immediately commence operation to clear such indiscriminately impounded vehicles off the Police stations adding that compliance to this directive will be confirmed through his ongoing tour of Police stations.

He cautioned the senior Police officers saying that any Departmental Head,  Zonal Commander,  Commissioner or Unit Head that is found wanting will be dealt with.

On the issuance of Spy plate number, he said that for the avoidance of doubt that its usage is purely for some categories of corporate bodies while while tinted glasses permits are issued under statutory regulations.

He said unfortunately, several individuals and criminals  have lately turn the use of Spy plate numbers and tinted glasses into status symbol and have fraudlently obtained such items  to carry out their nefarious activities according to media reports.

He added that henceforth,  the issuance of Spy plate numbers and tinted glasses is hereby suspended. The existing authorisations are being reviewed and a practical to regulate the issuance of such permits will be evolved.

IGP Baba also directed Commissioners of Police across the country to review and strengthen security around all command Headquarters and other Police division in their jurisdictions with a view to repulse any attempt to attack such facilities.

He mentioned that Nigeria Police assets are critical national security assets which must be defended against insurrectionists and arsonists as provided for in  section  33 sub 2 (a-c)  of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

IGP Alkali asked the Commissioners of Police to disallow the mounting of road blocks in their respective jurisdictions.

On the achievements recorded by the Police in tackling crimes and criminality across the country,  he informed the officers and the general public that a total of six hundred and eithty-six (686) high profile suspects had been arrested during various Police operations across the country.

He also indicated a total of one hundred and fifty two (152)  kidnapped victims including the students kidnapped at Federal College of Forestry Mechanization Kaduna had been resucued by the Police.

The Police boss added that most of the arrested suspects comprise mainly of bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers among whom were the principal suspects involved in the attack on Venue State Governor Dr. Samuel Ortom on March 20,2021.

He also commended the gallantry of these senior Police officers thanking and commending them for their sacrifices and that of their personnel in the face of limited operational resources.