Police recovered the car stolen in Rivers, sold in Gombe to its original owner

The Gombe State Police Command has handed over a Toyota Highlander SUV stolen almost five years ago in Rivers State to its owner after recovering the vehicle during a routine verification process in the state.

The vehicle was returned to its owner, Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday, following an investigation by agents of the Department of State Intelligence.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, police said the vehicle was recovered on June 8, 2026, through a joint operation involving the Department of State Intelligence and the Federal Road Safety Corps at the Gombe State Inland Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office.

According to the command, the vehicle was intercepted during a routine vehicle data verification exercise while it was in the process of re-registration.

Police said investigations confirmed that the Toyota Highlander belonged to Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru and was stolen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on September 17, 2021.

“Investigations determined that the vehicle belonged to Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“Further findings revealed that after being stolen, the vehicle was taken to Niger Republic in 2023.

“It then re-entered Nigeria via Illela, Sokoto State, in October 2025, before being sold in Kaduna State and ultimately taken to Gombe for re-registration, where it was intercepted,” police said.

The command added that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the theft and movement of vehicles at various locations are still ongoing.

“While efforts continue to uncover the perpetrators of 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 combat vehicle theft and other forms of organized crime through intelligence-led policing and collaboration with relevant agencies.

The police also appealed to the public to ensure proper verification of vehicle documents before purchasing a used vehicle and to immediately report suspicious transactions to security forces.