Police Return Stolen Car to Owner in Rivers After Five Years

Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, got her car back from the Gombe police after five years.

The Gombe State Police Command handed over a Toyota Highlander SUV that was stolen almost five years ago in Rivers State. They recovered the vehicle during a routine check in the state.

The handover took place on Friday after the State Intelligence Department carried out investigations.

The police reported that they found the vehicle on June 8, 2026. This happened during a joint operation with the Federal Road Safety Corps at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office.

The command explained that they intercepted the vehicle while it was going through a routine data verification process for re-registration. They confirmed that the Toyota Highlander belonged to Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru, who lost it 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. It was sold in Kaduna State and eventually brought to Gombe for re-registration, where it was intercepted,” the police stated.

The command mentioned that investigations into how the vehicle was stolen and moved around 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 police reassured the public of their commitment to fighting vehicle theft and other organized crimes. They are doing this through intelligence-led policing and working with other agencies.

They also encouraged people to verify vehicle documents properly before buying used cars. They urged everyone to report any suspicious activities to security agencies.