The Gombe State Police Command has handed over a Toyota Highlander SUV stolen nearly five years ago in Rivers State to its owner after recovering the vehicle during a routine verification exercise in the state.
The vehicle was returned to its owner, Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday, following investigations by operatives of the State Intelligence Department.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the police said the vehicle was recovered on June 8, 2026, through a joint operation involving the State Intelligence Department and the Federal Road Safety Corps at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office.
According to the command, the vehicle was intercepted during a routine vehicle data verification exercise while it was being processed for re-registration.
The police said investigations confirmed that the Toyota Highlander belonged to Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru and had been stolen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on September 17, 2021.
“The investigation established that the vehicle belongs to Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“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,” the police stated.
The command added that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the theft and movement of the vehicle across different locations are still ongoing.
“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,” the police said.
The command reiterated its commitment to combating vehicle theft and other forms of organised crime through intelligence-led policing and collaboration with relevant agencies.
Police also urged members of the public to ensure proper verification of vehicle documents before purchasing used vehicles and to promptly report suspicious transactions to security agencies.
