The Gombe State Police Command has recovered a Toyota Highlander reported stolen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, nearly five years ago, following a routine vehicle verification exercise.
The recovery was made on June 8, 2026, when operatives of the State Intelligence Department (SID), in collaboration with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), conducted a routine vehicle data verification and upload exercise at the Driver’s Licence Office of the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service.
According to the police, the vehicle, a Toyota Highlander with registration number FH823PHC, was flagged as suspicious during the verification process. Subsequent investigations confirmed that the vehicle belonged to Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Rumuodumaya, Port Harcourt, and had been reported stolen on September 17, 2021.
Further investigations revealed that the vehicle was moved to the Niger Republic in 2023 before re-entering Nigeria through Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State on October 17, 2025.
Police said the vehicle was later sold in Kaduna State sometime in 2025 and subsequently transported to Gombe State, where an attempt was being made to re-register it before it was detected by security operatives.
The Command disclosed that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest those involved in the theft, movement and sale of the vehicle.
Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Buhari Abdullahi, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
He also urged members of the public to exercise caution when purchasing vehicles by verifying ownership documents and vehicle records through the appropriate authorities to avoid acquiring stolen property.
The police assured that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.