Police in Benue State have launched a new traffic enforcement operation targeting unsafe driving, vehicle documentation and other road violations.
Operation Velvet, introduced on the directive of Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, is aimed at reducing road crashes and congestion while improving compliance with traffic regulations.
For motorists in Benue State, police say the focus will be on both safety and compliance.
Officers deployed under Operation Velvet will check speeding, overloading, one-way violations and compliance with traffic signs.
Vehicle and driver documentation will also come under scrutiny.
Police say motorists are expected to have valid driving licences, vehicle registration documents and roadworthiness certificates.
Number plates must also correspond with vehicle documents.
The operation will target covered or obscured number plates and the unauthorised use of tinted glass.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, says officers have been instructed to combine enforcement with effective traffic management.
He says motorists must be treated professionally and their rights respected.
But there is also a warning for the officers carrying out the operation.
Police say extortion, harassment and intimidation of road users will not be tolerated.
Serious traffic and criminal violations could lead to prosecution.
The command says Operation Velvet is intended to make roads safer, rather than provide an avenue for harassment.
Motorists are being advised to obey traffic regulations and ensure their vehicle documents are valid and up to date.
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Editor..Ada Ononye
