Police Begin Clampdown On Covered, Defaced Number Plates In Kano

The Kano State Police Command has commenced a crackdown on motorists using covered, defaced, fake or vehicles without valid number plates across the state.

The command’s spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, on Tuesday.

Kiyawa said the enforcement became necessary following the increasing trend of motorists deliberately covering, tampering with or removing vehicle number plates.

He explained that the practice violated road traffic regulations and posed a security risk, as it made it difficult for security agencies to identify vehicles linked to criminal activities.

“Covered or missing number plates undermine crime prevention and investigation efforts. They make it difficult to track vehicles used in crimes such as robbery, kidnapping, thuggery and other criminal activities,” he said.

The police spokesman said the Commissioner of Police had directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and the command’s traffic section to commence the enforcement across Kano metropolis and other local government areas.

He stated that the operation would target vehicles with covered, defaced or unreadable number plates, fake or unauthorised registration numbers, as well as vehicles plying roads without front and rear number plates.

According to him, vehicles found violating the directive would be impounded while offenders would be prosecuted.

The command urged motorists to ensure their vehicles were properly registered and fitted with standard number plates, warning them to remove any form of obstruction that affects plate visibility.

The police also appealed to transport unions, community leaders, and residents to support the exercise, stressing that the move was aimed at improving public safety, not to inconvenience law-abiding citizens.

Kiyawa reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and maintaining security across Kano State.