Authorities reunite vehicle with its rightful owner five years after Rivers theft

The Gombe State Police Command has successfully reunited a stolen Toyota Highlander SUV with its rightful owner, Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, nearly five years after it was taken in Rivers State, following its recovery during a routine verification exercise in the state.

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The vehicle was returned to Mrs. Duru on Friday, after the State Intelligence Department conducted a thorough investigation, which confirmed her ownership and shed light on the circumstances surrounding the theft.

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The recovery of the Toyota Highlander occurred on June 8, 2026, as a result of a joint operation between the State Intelligence Department and the Federal Road Safety Corps at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office.

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During this operation, the vehicle was intercepted while being processed for re-registration, sparking an investigation that ultimately led to its return to Mrs. Duru.

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Investigations by the police revealed that the Toyota Highlander was stolen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on September 17, 2021, and subsequently taken to the Republic of Niger in 2023.

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The vehicle later re-entered Nigeria through Illela, Sokoto State, in October 2025, before being sold in Kaduna State and eventually brought to Gombe for re-registration, where it was intercepted by the authorities.

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The police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the theft and movement of the vehicle across different locations, and efforts are ongoing to identify those responsible.

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On July 24, 2026, the command handed over the recovered Toyota Highlander to Mrs. Duru, marking a significant milestone in their efforts to combat vehicle theft and organised crime.

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The Gombe State Police Command remains committed to intelligence-led policing and collaboration with relevant agencies to tackle vehicle theft and other forms of organised crime.

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The police are urging members of the public to verify vehicle documents properly before purchasing used vehicles and to report any suspicious transactions to security agencies promptly.