Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate release of all accidented, impounded and unregistered vehicle exhibits from police stations across the nation to the owners.
The unpleasant and disgusting manner in which these vehicles are indiscriminately packed at the police stations is behind the IGP’s order.
This was disclosed in a press statement signed by CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi,, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer.
He said the order is to make police stations more tidy and that IGP Usman directed the various heads of police stations to follow a scrutinised process to ensure the vehicles reach the rightful owners.
Adejobi in the statement said that the owners of such impounded vehicles are expected to approach police stations with valid proof to reclaim their property.
The statement reads:
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc, has ordered the immediate evacuation of all impounded, accidented and unregistered exhibit vehicles from Police Stations nationwide.
“The order 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 frowns 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.
“The IGP further emphasises 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 IGP reiterates that the directive is part of efforts being put in place by his administration to ensure a conducive working environment for its personnel in order to set in motion such required strategies to combat crime and criminality in the country.
“The IGP further assures 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.’’
The IGP, therefore, called on all concerned members to provide valid proof of ownership and proper means of identification to enable them to approach various police stations/formations for the recovery and claims of their vehicles.
