Police Return Stolen SUV to Owner After Five Years

The Gombe State Police Command returned a Toyota Highlander SUV to its owner, Mrs. Cecilia A.

Duru of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, nearly five years after it was stolen. The vehicle was recovered on June 8, 2026, during a routine verification exercise at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office, conducted by the State Intelligence Department and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Investigations revealed that the SUV was stolen on September 17, 2021, in Port Harcourt, and was taken to the Republic of Niger in 2023. It re-entered Nigeria through Illela, Sokoto State, in October 2025, was sold in Kaduna State, and was intercepted in Gombe while being processed for re-registration.

The police confirmed the vehicle's ownership and stated that investigations into the theft and its movement are ongoing. The command emphasized its commitment to combating vehicle theft and urged the public to verify vehicle documents before purchasing used vehicles.