The Delta State Police Command on Tuesday took 10 vehicles before a mobile court in Asaba for alleged traffic violations as it commenced a statewide crackdown on improperly registered and unidentified vehicles.
The vehicles were cited during the launch of Operation VELVET, an enforcement exercise aimed at improving road safety and strengthening security across the state.
The operation, which began simultaneously across the command’s nine Area Commands and police divisions, was launched in compliance with a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
The police said the exercise would target vehicles without valid registration documents or number plates, as well as those with defaced, altered, obscured or deliberately covered plates.
Flagging off the operation in Asaba, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, urged motorists to ensure that their vehicles were properly documented and approved number plates clearly displayed.
The Commissioner directed officers deployed for the exercise to carry out their duties firmly but professionally, warning that extortion, harassment and other forms of misconduct would not be tolerated.
The police command said the enforcement is also intended to improve vehicle identification and prevent criminal elements from exploiting improperly identified vehicles.
The operation comes amid renewed concerns over road safety in Delta State. The command had earlier identified reckless driving, driving against traffic, excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking and other traffic offences as issues requiring stronger enforcement.
The Delta Police Command appealed to motorists and other road users to cooperate with officers carrying out the exercise and comply with existing traffic regulations.
Meanwhile, proceedings involving the 10 vehicles taken before the mobile court in Asaba were ongoing as of Tuesday.
The command said Operation VELVET would continue across Delta as part of efforts to improve compliance with vehicle registration requirements and strengthen security on the roads.
