The Kano State Police Command has impounded 81 vehicles for violating regulations on the display of vehicle registration number plates as part of a statewide enforcement operation aimed at enhancing public safety and tackling criminal activities.
The affected drivers are expected to face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kano on the ongoing enforcement exercise, codenamed Operation Clean Plates, which is being carried out across the 44 local government areas of the state.
CP Bakori said the operation targets vehicles with concealed, defaced or improperly displayed number plates, describing the practice as a deliberate attempt to conceal the identity of vehicles and frustrate law enforcement efforts.
According to him, criminals frequently exploit vehicles with covered or altered number plates to commit offences and evade arrest, stressing that the command will not allow Kano State to become a safe haven for such activities.
He explained that before the commencement of the operation, the Police Command embarked on an extensive public enlightenment campaign through radio, television, social media platforms and live phone-in programmes to educate residents on the legal requirement for proper vehicle registration and the clear display of standard number plates.
The Commissioner noted that the awareness campaign provided sufficient notice to vehicle owners, adding that no offender could legitimately claim ignorance of the law.
He further revealed that three additional vehicles were intercepted under suspicious circumstances during the operation after their occupants failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the ownership and purpose of the vehicles.
CP Bakori said the suspects and the vehicles are currently undergoing further investigation, assuring that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in line with the law.
The Commissioner emphasised that the enforcement exercise is not intended to harass law-abiding citizens but to strengthen security by ensuring that every vehicle operating on Kano roads can be properly identified and traced whenever necessary.
He urged motorists to ensure that their vehicles are duly registered, fitted with standard number plates and free from any coverings or obstructions that could hinder identification by security agencies.
CP Bakori also called on residents to cooperate with police personnel during the operation and report any act of unprofessional conduct by officers through the Command’s Complaint Response Unit.
He reaffirmed the Kano State Police Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and crime prevention, assuring residents that Operation Clean Plates would continue across the state until full compliance with vehicle registration regulations is achieved.