Police IG bans use of tinted vehicle windscreens, SPY plate numbers

The Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba has announced the immediate suspension of tinted vehicle windscreens in Nigeria.

The IGP announced this on Monday during a meeting with senior police officers including commissioners and DIGs from across the states.

He also directed that the issuance of spy number plates be put on hold.

This according to the IGP is part of efforts being put in place to curtail the worsening security challenges across the country.

While making the announcement, he reiterated that roadblocks remain prohibited in the country and warned that heads of commands must enforce it and key into the road patrol strategy as an alternative to roadblocks.

The IGP also spoke concerning the arrest of high-profile criminals.

According to him, some of the high-profile suspects in police custody include members of IPOB, kidnappers, and bandits who have confessed to committing some of the most heinous crimes in recent times.

He stressed the need for the senior police officers to ensure discipline in their various commands.

Some of the successes recorded by the Police Force in the last two months include the arrest of over 600 suspects including persons believed to have carried out an attack on Governor Samuel Ortom earlier in March, this year.

The IGP’s meeting is the first of such he was confirmed as the Inspector General of Police.

The Police Council last week confirmed Usman Alkali Baba as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), almost two months after he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

*Tinted Glass Law

General Ibrahim Babangida in February 1991 promulgated a decree prohibiting the tinting and use of cars with tinted glasses.

This according to him is to protect society from insecurity.

The decree is now known as the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 1991; made up of only six (6) sections.
-Channels TV

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has announced the immediate suspension of tinted vehicle permits and issuance of SPY plate numbers in the country.

In Abuja, the IGP reiterated a recurring fear that criminals were committing heinous crimes using vehicles with tinted glasses.

At a meeting with his top brass he also maintained that roadblocks were banned in the country.

He warned that heads of commands must enforce it and key into the road patrol strategy as an alternative to roadblocks.

Baba said, “Henceforth, the issuance of SPY plate numbers and tinted glasses permits are hereby suspended. The existing authorisations are being reviewed and a protocol to regulate the issuance of such permits will be evolved.

“An emerging trend in which some motorists cover their plate numbers has also been noticed across the country. This practice inhibits our law enforcement operations and hence, is intolerable. Consequently, Commissioners of Police are tasked to, as part of their operations, arrest any motorist involved in this act.”

The IGP also said the police arrested 686 high profile suspects in two months.

He said, “Between April and May, 2021, a total of 686 high-profile suspects have been arrested during various police operations across the country. The arrested suspects comprise mainly of bandits, kidnappers, and armed robbers. They also include the principal suspects involved in the attack on Governor Samuel Ortom on March 20, 2021.”