The Kano State Police Command has impounded 81 vehicles for violating vehicle registration regulations as part of its ongoing “Operation Clean Plates,” an enforcement campaign aimed at tackling the use of covered, defaced, and unregistered number plates across the state.
Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing attended by journalists, senior police officers, transport stakeholders, the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and representatives of the Kano State Car Dealers Association.
He said the operation was launched in response to the growing number of vehicles plying Kano roads with covered number plates, defaced registration numbers, or no registration at all, warning that such practices pose serious security threats.
According to CP Bakori, criminals often exploit unidentifiable vehicles to carry out criminal activities and evade law enforcement.
“This is not a minor traffic offence. It is a deliberate attempt to create anonymity. Criminals use such vehicles to commit crimes and escape detection. We cannot and will not allow Kano State to become a safe haven for such activities,” he said.
The police commissioner explained that before the commencement of enforcement, the Command carried out extensive public sensitization through radio, television, social media platforms, and live phone-in programs to educate motorists on the need to properly register their vehicles and display standard number plates.
He said the operation is being implemented across all 44 local government areas of Kano State.
CP Bakori revealed that, in addition to the 81 impounded vehicles, police operatives intercepted three other vehicles under suspicious circumstances.
He said the occupants failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the ownership and purpose of the vehicles during preliminary interrogation.
“The suspects and the vehicles are currently undergoing further investigation, and we will ensure that the law takes its full course,” he stated.
The Commissioner stressed that the exercise was not intended to harass law-abiding residents but to enhance public safety by ensuring that every vehicle operating within the state can be properly identified and traced.
He urged vehicle owners to regularize their vehicle registration, fix standard number plates, and remove any covering or obstruction that conceals registration numbers.
CP Bakori also called on members of the public to cooperate with security personnel and report any misconduct by police officers through the Command’s Complaint Response Unit.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and maintaining law and order, noting that the operation would continue until full compliance is achieved.
“The Kano State Police Command remains committed to protecting lives and property and ensuring Kano remains one of the safest states in the country,” the Commissioner said.
