The Kano State Police Command has intercepted 123 vehicles with concealed, defaced or missing registration plates during "Operation Clean Plate," launched on July 6 to disrupt criminal activities. Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori disclosed the figures at a briefing in Kano on Monday, stating that all drivers of the intercepted vehicles had been charged and prosecuted. The operation, described as intelligence-led and technology-driven, targets the use of unregistered or poorly marked vehicles by criminals to avoid detection.
On July 9, police at Panshekara Division intercepted a vehicle without a number plate around 11 a.m. The 15-year-old driver allegedly refused to stop and attempted to flee before being apprehended. A search of the vehicle yielded a Beretta pistol, suspected Indian hemp, a sharp knife, electric wires, 120 lithium batteries, and a car believed to have been stolen. The suspect has been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further questioning, and police are tracing the origin of the firearm and other items.
Bakori emphasized that the operation would continue across all 44 local government areas in Kano, urging vehicle owners to register their cars and display standard plates. He called on residents to provide credible information to aid crime prevention and warned officers against misconduct, directing the public to report any unprofessional behavior via official response lines. The police command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property until criminal anonymity on the roads is eliminated.
The police say vehicles without plates are tools for crime, yet a 15-year-old allegedly used one to carry a pistol, stolen goods and drugs without detection for days. If the operation began on July 6, how did the suspect evade checkpoints for three days? The same roads where police now intercept hundreds were used to transport weapons and contraband under their watch. Kano residents are expected to report suspicious activity while the police missed a mobile arsenal in plain sight.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →
