By Hassan Zaggi
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate evacuation of all impounded, accidented and unregistered exhibit vehicles from Police Stations across the country.
The order, according to a statement signed by the Force Acting Spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, is predicated on the incessant embarrassing and unprofessional manner in which these vehicles are stacked within police facilities causing nuisance and disgusting sight at Police Stations.
The IGP, the statement said, frowned at the practice of stockpiling vehicles recovered from crime scenes or vehicles which their ownership is being contested or in doubt, in police premises with stringent requirements and cumbersome processes for the rightful owners to reclaim them; stressing that such an act would no longer be tolerated as it is tantamount to gross abuse of administrative and judicial processes.
He further emphasized that heads of police stations and formations should embark on due process to carry out the needful evaluation and release such vehicles in these categories, on bond, to their owners.
The directive, the IGP, said, is part of efforts being put in place by his administration to ensure conducive working environment for its personnel in order to set in motion such required strategies to combat crime and criminality in the country.
He, however, assured that decongesting the Police Stations and facilities nationwide would be of great operational advantage to the Force in effectively dispensing its policing responsibilities and giving succour to the owners of such exhibit vehicles.
All concerned members of the public, have therefore, been advised to approach various Police stations/formations for the recovery and claims of their vehicles, with valid proof of ownership and proper means of identification.
