The acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammadu Adamu has prohibited, with immediate effect, the covering of Vehicle Number Plates by all unauthorized vehicle users across the country.

Police spokesman, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Frank Mba, on Tuesday, said the IGP gave the order following intelligence report that the unwholesome practice may be deployed by some unscrupulous persons to aid the commission of electoral related offenses before, during and after the Saturday, 9th March, 2019 Gubernatorial/House of Assembly elections.

He said, apart from possible threats to the polls, the IGP also noted that the covering of Vehicle Number Plate amounts to a clear breach of the Road Traffic Act and other relevant laws of the land.

Mba further said the act could impact negatively on national security, safety and has the capacity to heighten criminal activities, engender an atmosphere of lawlessness, shield perpetrators of crime and place unnecessary pressure on security agencies in their routine crime prevention and monitoring tasks.

He said the IGP had directed all Assistant Inspector Generals of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the Zonal and State Commands to strictly enforce the restriction order at their various Areas of Responsibilities (AOR).