Police Begin Enforcement Of Motorcycle, Tricycle Ban In Kano

The Kano State Police Command on Tuesday commenced night patrol to enforce existing ban on passenger motorcycles and the restriction of commercial tricycle operations between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. across parts of the state.

LEADERSHIP reports that the command had earlier reiterated the enforcement of the restrictions following resurgence of banditry activities and the recent influx of commercial motorcyclists into the state.

The operation, in collaboration with officers of the Kano Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA), is part of renewed efforts to strengthen security and curb criminal activities.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kano State Command, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, disclosed this on his official Facebook page on Wednesday.

However, Kiyawa did not disclose the exact number of vehicles impounded, nor clarify whether motorcycles used strictly for private purposes were affected during the operation.

He later disclosed that the seized vehicles would be handed over to the court for appropriate action.

The enforcement has, however, sparked concerns among some residents over alleged indiscriminate arrests.

A popular Kano-based human rights lawyer, Abba Hikima, reminded the police that the 2013 law banning motorcycle passenger conveyance applies only to commercial operators.

“I have been receiving complaints that officers are arresting ordinary citizens simply because they carried passengers, not for commercial purposes. The 2013 law banning motorcycle passenger conveyance only applies to those who carry passengers for commercial purposes, and indeed that is what truly poses a threat to security. People’s rights should be respected,” he wrote on Facebook.

Residents call on the police to clearly differentiate between the use of commercial and private motorcycles to avoid rights violations while sustaining efforts to address the security challenges in the State.