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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed that its nationwide crackdown on vehicle identity fraud and other traffic violations recorded more than 1,600 number plate-related violations.
It also said its operatives intercepted five vehicles bearing fake diplomatic number plates and apprehended motorists for 6,454 other traffic offences during the second phase of its strategic enforcement operation, code-named Operation Guduma II.
The Corps said the enforcement exercise was conducted from November 2 to 6, 2026, across 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It added that the operation represented a renewed offensive against the growing abuse of vehicle registration identities, particularly the unauthorised use of diplomatic number plates, which has serious implications for national security, law enforcement and public safety.
The Corps Public Education Officer at the FRSC National Headquarters, Abuja, Osondu Ohaeri, said the operation, approved by the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, followed concerns raised by the National Assembly and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) over the security implications of vehicle identity violations.
He explained that the operation was designed to strengthen surveillance, expose fraudulent vehicle identities and ensure that motorists comply with established vehicle registration and road traffic regulations.
According to him, the enforcement exercise covered Lagos, Ondo, Cross River, Benue, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Bauchi, Imo, Abia, Kano and the FCT, with dedicated operational teams deployed to strategic locations to identify and apprehend offenders.
The scale of the violations, he noted, underscores the urgent need for sustained enforcement and greater public vigilance against the misuse of vehicle identification systems.
“A comparison with the first phase of Operation Guduma, which recorded 1,003 number plate violations and 683 other traffic offences, reveals a substantial increase in the number of violations detected during the second phase. The development further demonstrates the importance of sustained operational visibility, targeted surveillance and coordinated enforcement in exposing traffic violations that could otherwise go undetected.”
Speaking on the development, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, reiterated the Corps’ resolve to ensure that Nigerian roads are not exploited by individuals seeking to conceal their identities, evade law enforcement or compromise national security through fraudulent vehicle documentation.
He emphasised that vehicle number plates serve as critical instruments of national security, vehicle traceability and law enforcement. Consequently, the Corps will not relent in confronting their abuse, regardless of the status or disposition of offenders.
He further assured Nigerians that Operation Guduma would be sustained and progressively expanded to other states of the federation, while operational strategies would continue to be strengthened through improved personnel deployment, inter-agency collaboration and intelligence-led enforcement.
The Corps also warned motorists against using fake, unauthorised, concealed or improperly displayed number plates, stressing that no individual or vehicle is above the law. It urged motorists to ensure that their vehicles carry duly registered and approved number plates and comply fully with all extant traffic regulations.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Charles Edem, has warned motorists against reckless driving and other dangerous road practices, describing the persistent loss of lives through road traffic crashes as a national concern requiring urgent collective action.
He gave the warning while addressing journalists during activities marking the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash Victims, with the theme, “The Light That Unites Us”.
Edem lamented that road traffic crashes continue to destroy families, truncate promising futures and leave survivors with permanent physical, emotional and psychological injuries. He stressed that every life lost represents a dream cut short and a family thrown into mourning.
He called on motorists, transport operators, passengers, pedestrians and government agencies to embrace responsible road use and strengthen efforts to reduce avoidable road crashes across the country.
According to him, the annual remembrance provides an opportunity to reflect on the devastating consequences of road traffic crashes, honour those who lost their lives and show solidarity with families and survivors whose lives have been permanently altered.
