Kano Police Seize 81 Vehicles In Fresh Crackdown On Unregistered Cars
The Kano State Police Command has intensified its campaign against unregistered vehicles across the state, impounding 81 vehicles found operating with missing, covered or altered number plates as part of a new security enforcement exercise.
The operation, code-named “Operation Clean Plates,” is being carried out across all 44 local government areas of Kano State and is aimed at strengthening public safety by ensuring that every vehicle on the road can be properly identified and traced.
Speaking during a press briefing, the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said the command had observed a growing number of vehicles moving around with concealed, defaced or completely absent registration plates, describing the trend as a serious security concern rather than a simple traffic violation.
According to him, criminals often exploit anonymous vehicles to commit offences and evade detection, making it necessary for the police to launch the statewide enforcement exercise.
Bakori explained that before the operation began, the command embarked on an extensive public awareness campaign through radio, television, social media and interactive programmes to educate motorists on the importance of registering their vehicles and displaying standard number plates. He said adequate notice was given to ensure no motorist could claim ignorance of the enforcement.
The police commissioner disclosed that 81 vehicles had so far been impounded for violating registration regulations, adding that the affected drivers would face prosecution in accordance with the law.
He also revealed that officers intercepted three additional vehicles under suspicious circumstances during the operation after their occupants allegedly failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding ownership and the purpose of the vehicles. Both the suspects and the vehicles remain under investigation.
Bakori stressed that the exercise is not intended to harass law-abiding motorists but to improve security across Kano by eliminating the anonymity that unregistered vehicles provide to criminal elements.
He urged all vehicle owners to ensure their vehicles are properly registered, fitted with approved number plates and free from any coverings or alterations that could obstruct identification.
The commissioner also appealed to residents to cooperate with security personnel and report any misconduct by police officers through the command’s official complaint channels.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Police Command to intelligence-led policing, noting that the enforcement drive will continue until full compliance is achieved across the state.