FRSC targets motorists using fake, concealed number plates in Bauchi

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has intensified its crackdown on motorists using fraudulent or concealed number plates in Bauchi State, warning offenders that they will face no leniency. Spanning five days, the operation, dubbed Operation Guduma (Hammer), zeroes in on vehicles equipped with fake, missing, faded, camouflaged, or unauthorized diplomatic plates.

This initiative forms part of a nationwide security initiative spearheaded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), aimed at ensuring vehicles can be identified through their registration information and ownership records.

Commander Chorrie Muta’a spearheaded the operation in Bauchi, highlighting the growing security issue arising from the misuse of government registration numbers by private motorists. Muta’a revealed that some individuals, including government officials, have been transferring official number plates to their personal vehicles to avoid identification during criminal activities.

Concealing registration plates, especially in vehicles with tinted windows, could complicate the ability of security agencies to identify motorists involved in hit-and-run incidents or other illicit acts. He emphasized that driving without a valid registration number is akin to having a child without a name, underscoring the necessity of every vehicle possessing a recognized identity.

Muta’a assured that the enforcement team would broaden its reach from Bauchi's urban area to all 20 local government areas within the state. Having conducted similar operations in other regions of the country, the FRSC remains resolute in ensuring compliance across Bauchi. The commander urged motorists to update their vehicle documents and cooperate with enforcement officers, stressing that the initiative, beginning on Monday, would conclude on Friday.