The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested some members of number plates forgery rings operating in Kano and Kebbi states in connection with the production of illegal vehicle number plates including that of the Kano House of Assembly ‘Chip Whip’.
According to a release by the Corps Public Education Officerbof the FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi immediately directed the Kano state Sector Commander, Zubairu Mato to collaborate with security agencies to fish out the syndicates involved in producing fake number plates in the state after the ‘Chip Whip’ episode.
The statement says, “On Tuesday 12th Nov, 2019 DSS raided the following areas in Kano state; Sabon Gari, Kofar Ruwa, Gidan Boss (Kofar Mazugal) Kofar Wambai (Yan Robobi) and Naibawa Zaria road.”
“At Sabon Gari, a suspect was arrested and subsequently charged to Court for production of fake number plates. The suspect was apprehended while digging the ground to hide the illegal number plates in his possession to evade arrest.”
“Reacting to the successes recorded in the operation, the State Director, DSS Kano state promised to sustain the tempo of clamping down on producers of fake number plates in the state.”
In a similar operation, the Corps arrested some people at the Dodaru market, Gwandu Local Government Area of Kebbi state who specialise in selling illegal Number Plates to motorcyclists.
The suspects were arraigned on Friday before the Chief Magistrate Court 1 Birnin Kebbi. The accused pleaded not guilty but were remanded in prison custody by the Chief Magistrate till 28 November, 2019 when the case will be represented for hearing.
The Corps Marshal, Oyeyemi expressed satisfaction over the fruitful synergy thanked the Director General DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi for the prompt professional response in arresting members of the illegal number plate rings.
He called on all Nigerians who have vital information about any individual involved in the illegal act to provide such to the Corps for necessary actions.