Police in Abuja have impounded more than 30 vehicles as they begin enforcing a ban on tinted windows and obscured number plates across Nigeria’s capital.
The crackdown aims to tackle a rise in violent crimes, including kidnappings and “one-chance” robberies—a common local tactic where passengers are held hostage inside commercial vehicles.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, told reporters on Friday that criminals were deliberately using tinted windows to hide their identities and evade law enforcement.
“This exercise is not intended in any way to inconvenience law-abiding citizens,” Mr Sanusi said. “It is to deny criminals the cover they exploit.”
Those caught violating the regulations face prosecution under traffic and federal laws, the police warned.
The operation has been authorised by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.
However, the sudden enforcement has raised questions over the legal status of the ban.
In January, the Nigeria Police Force suspended a nationwide enforcement policy on tinted window permits following an interim court order. It remains unclear whether that injunction has been lifted.
Police have urged Abuja residents to cooperate with the strict new checks, framing the measures as a necessary step to improve safety in the capital.
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