FRSC starts five-day crackdown on fake, obsolete number plates

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has started the second phase of its special intervention patrol, code-named Operation Gaduma, with a five-day crackdown on fake, covered, defaced and obsolete vehicle number plates in selected states.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Osondu Ohaeri, said in a statement issued on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in Abuja that the operation will run from Monday, November 2, to Friday, November 6.

What the patrol will target

The intervention was approved by the Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed. Senior officers have been deployed to coordinate and supervise the exercise across the selected states.

Ohaeri said the second phase builds on the first operation conducted in May 2026, which recorded 1,691 arrests across 11 states. The arrests covered several offences.

The breakdown: 1,003 motorists were apprehended for various number plate-related offences. 683 motorists were arrested for overloading and mixed-loading. Five persons were arrested for using fake diplomatic number plates.

The Corps said the figures showed the scale of the challenge and the need for sustained enforcement against vehicle registration violations.

Security concerns behind the operation

The renewed intervention followed concerns raised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) over the increasing use of fake vehicle registration plates, including covered, defaced, obsolete and counterfeit diplomatic plates.

Ohaeri said vehicles with concealed or fraudulent registration plates make it difficult for security agencies to identify them, monitor their movements and investigate criminal activities.

He said: 'The Corps is concerned that vehicles operating with unidentifiable or fraudulent registration plates create opportunities for criminal elements to evade identification, compromise security surveillance and frustrate investigations.'

He added that Operation Gaduma is designed to complement national security efforts by strengthening vehicle identification and ensuring greater accountability among road users.

The operation will also prioritise traffic management along designated corridors, emergency rescue interventions and the prompt clearance of road obstructions.

The Corps Marshal directed personnel to carry out their duties with professionalism, discipline and respect for citizens’ rights, particularly when engaging vehicles displaying diplomatic number plates. Such cases must be handled in line with applicable diplomatic protocols.

Earlier enforcement

The latest operation follows earlier FRSC efforts to address fake and unauthorised vehicle registration plates. In March 2025, Mohammed said the agency had arrested 7,798 individuals across the country in two months over offences involving fake vehicle number plates.

He said the Corps encountered resistance from some vehicle owners using fake registration plates but remained committed to enforcing the relevant regulations. He warned that the growing use of fake or unauthorised number plates had serious security implications because it could hinder security agencies from identifying and tracking vehicles linked to criminal activities.

Mohammed called for stronger support from the National Assembly to improve enforcement and ensure offenders were prosecuted. He also commended lawmakers for their contributions to road safety and security efforts, urging them to work with the FRSC to strengthen existing laws and enforcement measures.

For road users and businesses that move goods by road, the five-day exercise means more checks in selected states, especially for vehicles with covered, defaced or obsolete plates.