The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commenced the second phase of its special intervention patrol, Operation Gaduma, a five-day crackdown on fake, covered, defaced and obsolete vehicle number plates across selected states.
Corps Public Education Officer Osondu Ohaeri disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in Abuja that the operation would run from Monday, November 2, to Friday, November 6. He said the exercise, approved by Corps Marshal Malam Shehu Mohammed, is part of renewed efforts to strengthen road safety enforcement and address security concerns associated with the unlawful use of vehicle registration plates.
For logistics operators, fleet managers and other businesses that rely on road transport, the exercise signals stricter compliance expectations around vehicle documentation and identification. Ohaeri said designated senior officers have been deployed to coordinate and supervise the operation across the selected states.
The second phase builds on the first operation conducted in May 2026, which recorded 1,691 arrests across 11 states. The arrests included 1,003 motorists for number plate-related offences, 683 for overloading and mixed-loading, and five for using fake diplomatic number plates. Ohaeri said the figures demonstrate the scale of the challenge and the need for sustained enforcement against vehicle registration violations.
He added that 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 operating with concealed or fraudulent registration plates make it difficult for security agencies to identify them, monitor their movements and investigate criminal activities. He was quoted as saying: “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.”
“Consequently, Operation Guduma is designed to complement national security efforts by strengthening vehicle identification and ensuring greater accountability among road users.”
