Governor Hope Uzodimma has ordered a statewide crackdown on commercial vehicles with tinted windows following disturbing security reports linking such vehicles to a rise in criminal activities. The directive, issued on April 23, 2025, gives all affected operators just 72 hours to comply or face arrest and prosecution.
Security intelligence gathered in recent weeks points to a growing trend where tinted commercial buses are used for heinous crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery, and hit-and-run operations. Most incidents were reported in urban centers such as Owerri, Orlu, and Okigwe, with victims often unable to identify assailants due to the obscured nature of the vehicle interiors.
As part of the enforcement strategy, the Governor instructed security operatives across the state to immediately coordinate with relevant government officials to identify, stop, and sanction violators. According to the statement signed by Chief Press Secretary Oguwike Nwachuku, any commercial bus still operating with tinted windows after the three-day ultimatum will be impounded and the operators prosecuted.
Authorities say the policy is part of a broader effort to restore public safety and curb criminal infiltration within the state’s transport system. The government believes that banning tinted glasses on commercial buses will help deter unlawful use of the vehicles and enable easier identification of suspects during incidents.
This move has already sparked mixed reactions among bus operators and transport unions, some of whom argue that not all tinted vehicles are used for crime. However, government sources insist that no exceptions will be made, citing the urgent need to protect lives and reduce rising insecurity in the region.
The clampdown is expected to take full effect by April 26, 2025, and will cover all types of commercial buses, regardless of registration or ownership. Transport operators have been urged to take immediate action by removing any tinting material before the deadline expires.
Residents are encouraged to report any vehicle in violation of the new directive to security agencies through designated hotlines, as the state intensifies efforts to cleanse its roads of vehicles aiding criminal activity.
