In a swift enforcement action earlier this morning, the Imo State Committee against Tinted Commercial Buses apprehended a commercial keke-bus operator suspected to be involved in “one chance” criminal activities.
The suspect, whose identity is being withheld for security reasons, was arrested in Owerri after security agents noticed suspicious behavior and discovered that his vehicle had tinted glass – a common tactic used by criminals to conceal their activities from unsuspecting passengers and security operatives.
This arrest comes just days after the Imo State Government, through the Honorable Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo, inaugurated a special committee to tackle the growing menace of “one chance” operators and other criminal elements who often use tinted-glass commercial buses and vehicles with covered number plates.
The committee is headed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Hon. Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, and comprises officials from the Ministry of Transport, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), etc.
Speaking on the development, Hon. Okoronkwo commended the vigilance of the task force and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to flushing out criminal actors using the public transport system as cover.
“This arrest is just the beginning. Imo State is no longer a safe haven for those who hide behind tinted glass and covered number plates to commit crime. We are going after them, one by one,” Okoronkwo declared.
Also speaking, the head of the committee, Hon. Nze Chinasa Nwaneri called on all Imo residents to remain alert and report any suspicious commercial vehicles, especially those with tinted windows or no visible plate numbers, to the nearest law enforcement agency.
“We are urging our people: do not board any bus or keke-bus with tinted windows or covered plate numbers. Be vigilant. Help us help you stay safe,” he added.
The Imo State Government reiterated that this clampdown is not a one-off exercise but a sustained campaign aimed at protecting lives and restoring confidence in the state’s transportation system.
Citizens are encouraged to cooperate with the enforcement team and support ongoing efforts to secure Imo State from all forms of vehicular crime.
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