The Katsina State police command has commenced a statewide enforcement against vehicles operating without valid registration or concealed, fake and improperly displayed number plates.

The command said the exercise followed a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, aimed at strengthening internal security and enhancing crime detection across the country.

In a statement on Thursday in Katsina State, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, said the operation would target vehicles with unregistered, forged, duplicated or improperly affixed number plates.

He said the enforcement would also extend to vehicles with number plates that were covered, concealed, defaced, mutilated, dented or altered to obstruct visibility.

According to him, the command has observed an increasing use of hidden, missing or unauthorised registration plates by criminals to evade identification and frustrate law enforcement efforts.

Mr Sadiq-Aliyu said such practices posed  security threats, as they hindered proactive policing and made crime detection more difficult.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Ali Fage, directed the area commanders, Divisional Police Officers and tactical commanders to immediately commence strict enforcement across the state.

The police spokesman warned that any vehicle found violating the law would be impounded, investigated and the offenders prosecuted in accordance with extant laws.

He advised motorists to regularise their vehicle registration and ensure their number plates were properly affixed, clearly visible and compliant with the law.

Mr Sadiq-Aliyu also said the commissioner also directed officers deployed for the operation to maintain the highest level of professionalism and civility in the discharge of their duties.

He warned that acts of extortion, intimidation or harassment by police officers would not be tolerated and attract severe disciplinary action.

The spokesman urged members of the public to report any misconduct by officers through the command’s emergency lines or the Police Public Relations Office.

He also appealed to residents to report suspicious vehicles operating under questionable circumstances to the nearest police station, assuring them of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property through proactive policing.

The command expressed confidence that the enforcement would enhance public safety, improve vehicle identification and strengthen efforts to combat criminal activities across Katsina State.

(NAN)