The Gombe State Police Command has recovered a Toyota Highlander SUV that was reported stolen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, nearly five years ago.
The vehicle was recovered on June 8, 2026, during a routine verification exercise conducted by operatives of the State Intelligence Department (SID) in collaboration with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service vehicle licensing office.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Buhari Abdullahi, the vehicle was flagged during a standard data verification and upload process carried out by the joint team.
Further checks revealed that the Toyota Highlander, bearing registration number FH823PHC, had been reported stolen on September 17, 2021.
Preliminary investigations identified the registered owner of the vehicle as Cecilia A. Duru, a resident of Akwaka Lane, Rumuodumaya, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Following the recovery, detectives launched an investigation to trace the vehicle’s movement over the years. Findings showed that the SUV was moved to the Niger Republic in 2023.
Police records further indicated that the vehicle later re-entered Nigeria through Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State on October 17, 2025.
Investigators also discovered that the vehicle was subsequently sold in Kaduna State before it was transported to Gombe State, where it was recovered during the verification exercise.
The Gombe State Police Command said it has commenced a full-scale investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for the theft and illegal movement of the vehicle.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to tackling vehicle-related crimes and urged members of the public to provide useful information that could assist ongoing investigations.
