Police Return Car Stolen in Rivers to Owner After Five Years

The Gombe State Police Command has returned a Toyota Highlander SUV stolen nearly five years ago in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to its rightful owner, Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru, following a successful recovery and investigation. The vehicle was officially handed over on Friday after operatives of the State Intelligence Department confirmed her ownership.

According to the police, the SUV was recovered on June 8, 2026, during a joint operation involving the State Intelligence Department and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office. The vehicle was flagged during a routine verification exercise while being processed for re-registration.

Investigations revealed that the vehicle was stolen in Port Harcourt on September 17, 2021, before being moved to the Republic of Niger in 2023. It later re-entered Nigeria through Illela, Sokoto State, in 2025, was sold in Kaduna State, and eventually surfaced in Gombe, where police tracked and recovered it.

The Gombe Police Command said the recovery highlights the importance of inter-agency collaboration and thorough vehicle verification processes in tackling vehicle theft. The command also urged members of the public to ensure proper documentation of their vehicles and report suspicious transactions to security agencies.