The Lagos State Police Command has unveiled fresh measures to strengthen security across the state, with Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, directing officers to intensify intelligence gathering, community engagement and enforcement against vehicles operating with concealed or missing number plates.
The directives emerged from a high level security meeting convened by the police commissioner with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and crime reporters at the Officers’ Mess in Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking during the engagement, Fatai said the meeting was aimed at reviewing the prevailing security landscape and aligning operational strategies with directives from the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
According to him, one of the major concerns raised was the increasing use of vehicles without visible registration numbers, a trend security agencies believe could aid criminal activities and hinder investigations.
The police commissioner stressed that no vehicle should be driven on public roads without a properly displayed number plate, warning that any motorist found concealing or removing registration details would face immediate enforcement action.
He clarified that only individuals specifically recognised under existing laws and security protocols are permitted to cover their number plates under defined circumstances, while all other road users must comply fully with the directive.
Fatai noted that Area Commanders and DPOs have been mandated to ensure strict implementation of the order across their jurisdictions as part of broader efforts to deny criminal elements operational anonymity.
Beyond traffic enforcement, the commissioner disclosed that the command had intensified stakeholder engagement programmes at both command and divisional levels to deepen cooperation between the police and local communities.
He directed all DPOs to sustain regular interactions with residents, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders to improve intelligence sharing and strengthen grassroots policing.
The CP also assured residents that the command was fully prepared to provide adequate security during forthcoming electoral activities, with officers placed on heightened alert to maintain law and order.
Fatai further emphasised the importance of collaboration among security agencies, describing Lagos as a strategic and highly connected state that requires coordinated responses to emerging threats.
He revealed that joint patrols are being sustained at border communities, waterways and other vulnerable locations in partnership with sister security agencies and neighbouring state commands.
According to him, security operations in border towns have been reinforced through intelligence driven raids and closer cooperation between divisional formations operating along interstate corridors.
The commissioner also used the occasion to caution individuals spreading false security alerts and unverified reports on social media, warning that such actions create panic and undermine public confidence.
He referenced recent incidents in which fabricated claims of bandit infiltration sparked anxiety among residents, stressing that investigations had shown no such threat existed within Lagos State.
Fatai warned content creators, teachers and other individuals against staging or circulating misleading security related videos for online engagement, noting that anyone found deliberately spreading false alarms would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Responding to questions from journalists, he reaffirmed that Lagos enjoys one of the strongest inter agency security collaborations in the country, supported by regular strategic meetings, intelligence exchanges and coordinated operations.
He added that the command’s robust intelligence network recently contributed to the successful disruption of criminal activities, including efforts to prevent serious security breaches within the state.
The commissioner also disclosed plans to engage commercial motorcycle operators and transport unions in security awareness programmes aimed at improving passenger profiling, information sharing and vigilance across Lagos communities.
Fatai assured residents that the Lagos State Police Command remains fully committed to safeguarding lives and property, urging the public to remain calm, law abiding and supportive of ongoing security initiatives.