Police Reactivate Operation Velvet in Sokoto, Warn Motorists Against Traffic Violations
The Sokoto State Police Command has announced the reactivation of Operation Velvet, a traffic enforcement exercise aimed at promoting road safety, public order and compliance with traffic regulations across the state.
The Command said the operation will officially commence on Thursday, August 13, 2026, with officers directed to strictly enforce traffic laws and sanction offenders.
According to a public announcement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, the exercise will focus on several offences, including driving without valid tinted glass permits, “one-way” driving, use of unregistered vehicles, fake number plates and covered or obscured number plates.
The police also warned that other offences, including reckless driving, overloading, disobedience to traffic signals and driving without a valid driver’s licence, would be strictly enforced.
The Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, psc, mnips, said the operation would be conducted professionally, with civility and restraint.
He directed personnel deployed for the exercise to respect the fundamental human rights and dignity of all road users, warning that extortion, harassment, intimidation and other forms of misconduct would not be tolerated.
The Commissioner said any police personnel found engaging in misconduct would face severe disciplinary action, including prosecution where necessary.
The Command urged motorists and other road users to ensure that their vehicles have valid registration and documentation, remove any obstruction covering their number plates, obtain valid tinted glass permits where applicable and strictly obey traffic regulations.
It particularly advised motorists to desist from driving against the flow of traffic, popularly known as “one-way”, which it described as a dangerous practice that contributes to fatal accidents and traffic congestion.
The Command also encouraged members of the public to report cases of misconduct, human rights violations or make enquiries through its Complaint Response Unit on 08032861946 and 09033002739.
