Police Recover, Return SUV Stolen in Rivers After Five Years -

The Gombe State Police Command has successfully recovered and returned a Toyota Highlander SUV that was stolen nearly five years ago in Rivers State to its rightful owner.

The vehicle, belonging to Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Port Harcourt, was officially handed over on Friday following a thorough investigation by operatives of the State Intelligence Department.

According to the police, the SUV was recovered on June 8, 2026, during a routine vehicle verification exercise carried out in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office.

Authorities revealed that the vehicle was flagged while undergoing re-registration, prompting further scrutiny.

Subsequent investigations confirmed Mrs. Duru as the legitimate owner, with records showing the car had been stolen in Port Harcourt on September 17, 2021.

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Further findings disclosed that after the theft, the vehicle was trafficked to the Republic of Niger in 2023. It later re-entered Nigeria through Illela in Sokoto State in October 2025, before being sold in Kaduna State and eventually brought to Gombe for re-registration, where it was intercepted.

The police stated that investigations are ongoing to uncover those responsible for the theft and the illegal cross-border movement of the vehicle.

Reaffirming its commitment to tackling vehicle theft and organized crime, the command emphasized the importance of intelligence-led policing and inter-agency collaboration.

Members of the public were also advised to verify vehicle documents thoroughly before purchasing used cars and to report any suspicious transactions to the appropriate authorities.

This recovery highlights the growing effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts in tracking stolen assets and restoring them to their rightful owners.