FRSC Arrests 1,691 in Five-Day Crackdown on Overloading, Fake Diplomatic Plates

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has arrested 1,691 traffic offenders in a nationwide enforcement operation targeting overloading, mix-loading and the use of fake diplomatic number plates.

The arrests were made during a special intervention exercise, codenamed *Operation Guduma*, which was conducted simultaneously across major transport corridors in 11 states of the federation.

According to the FRSC, the operation was designed to tackle dangerous road practices and fraudulent vehicle identification schemes that pose serious threats to public safety and national security.

A breakdown of the arrests showed that 683 offenders were apprehended for overloading and mix-loading violations, while 1,003 motorists were arrested for various number plate-related offences. In addition, five suspects were caught using fake diplomatic number plates.

The Corps said the operation uncovered widespread abuse of unauthorised association number plates and other deceptive vehicle registration methods often used to evade law enforcement scrutiny.

Speaking on the outcome of the exercise, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, described the findings as alarming, warning that such practices create significant risks on Nigerian roads.

He said the operation exposed critical loopholes capable of contributing to road crashes, aiding criminal activities and weakening public confidence in the country’s vehicle identification system.

“The misuse of diplomatic number plates and persistent loading violations represent not merely traffic offences but direct threats to public safety and national security,” the Corps Marshal said.

He stressed that the FRSC would continue to deploy intelligence-driven enforcement strategies to identify and dismantle illegal practices across the nation’s highways.

The operation also revealed several vehicles transporting overloaded cargoes and operating with improperly secured containers, conditions the Corps said could easily trigger fatal crashes and extensive economic losses.

Mohammed reiterated the agency’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on road safety violations, insisting that compliance with traffic regulations remains non-negotiable.

According to him, every preventable crash avoided translates into lives saved, families protected and economic productivity preserved.

Buoyed by the outcome of the operation, the FRSC announced plans to expand and institutionalise Operation Guduma across major road corridors nationwide.

The Corps also disclosed that it would deepen collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that offenders are not only apprehended but also prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The latest enforcement drive comes amid renewed efforts by the FRSC to reduce road traffic crashes, improve compliance with safety regulations and strengthen the integrity of vehicle registration and identification systems across the country.