Police return car stolen in Rivers to owner after five years

The Gombe State Police Command has successfully recovered and returned a Toyota Highlander SUV to its rightful owner, Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru, nearly five years after it was stolen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The recovery marks a significant success in combating vehicle theft and cross-border criminal activity.

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The investigation established that the vehicle belongs to Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The vehicle was intercepted on June 8, 2026, during a routine vehicle data verification exercise at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office. Operatives from the State Intelligence Department, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, flagged the SUV as it was being processed for re-registration.

Subsequent investigations confirmed the vehicle belonged to Mrs. Duru and had been stolen on September 17, 2021. The police revealed a complex journey for the stolen vehicle, which was reportedly taken to the Republic of Niger in 2023. It later re-entered Nigeria through Illela, Sokoto State, in October 2025, before being sold in Kaduna State and eventually brought to Gombe.

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

While the investigation into the individuals involved in the theft and the vehicle's illicit movement continues, the police expressed satisfaction in returning the recovered Toyota Highlander to its owner on July 24, 2026. The command reiterated its commitment to fighting organized crime and advised the public to exercise due diligence when purchasing used vehicles, emphasizing the importance of proper document verification and reporting any suspicious transactions.

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While efforts continue to unravel those behind the theft and illegal movement of the vehicle, the command is pleased to hand over the recovered Toyota Highlander to its rightful owner today, July 24, 2026.