In a renewed bid to strengthen internal security management and control, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba, has placed an indefinite ban on the use of SPY Police vehicle number plates across the country.
The Force headquarters said the order has become imperative to check abuse of traffic regulations in major towns and cities.
Persecondnews reports that the directive of the police chief is coming at a time traffic violations are fast becoming the norm in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, with vehicles using SPY as violators.
To this end, the IGP said all security operatives must comply with the directive against SPY commonly used by VIPs irrespective of whether it is authorized, announcing the revocation of all previous authorizations.
“The 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,” a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said.
The IGP directed Commissioners of Police in the 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 and enforcement to the directives.
Specifically, he directed the AIGs and CPs to immediately confiscate all SPY number plates currently in use and refrain from arresting owners of such vehicles unless they are police officers or officers of other security agencies on escort duties.
“Police officers and officers of other security agencies attached to VIPs who use the SPY number plates are to comply with this directive or risk being arrested for violation of the order.”
Baba, however, warned that while carrying out these assignments, officers must ensure that the rights and privileges of citizens are respected in line with the laws of the land and in accordance with international best practices.
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