GOMBE, Nigeria — The Gombe State Police Command has recovered a Toyota Highlander SUV stolen in Rivers State five years ago, successfully tracing its movement across state borders and dismantling a network that facilitated the vehicle’s illegal circulation.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Mu’azu Abubakar, confirmed the recovery in a statement issued on Saturday in Gombe. He explained that the vehicle was intercepted following intelligence gathering and sustained investigations that tracked its movement from Rivers State through multiple states before it was recovered in Gombe.
According to the police spokesperson, the Toyota Highlander was stolen in Rivers State in 2021 and had since changed hands several times before being intercepted in Gombe. He disclosed that the vehicle was recovered from one Sani Suleiman, who claimed to have purchased it from an online marketplace without knowing it was stolen.
The suspect is currently in police custody and assisting with investigations to track down other members of the syndicate involved in the theft and distribution of stolen vehicles. The police have also recovered documents used to forge the vehicle’s ownership papers, which enabled its illegal circulation across states.
ASP Abubakar noted that the recovery highlights the importance of inter-state collaboration among security agencies in tackling vehicle theft and other transnational crimes. He commended the operatives involved in the operation for their diligence and professionalism.
The police have advised members of the public to exercise due diligence when purchasing vehicles, particularly from online marketplaces, to avoid unknowingly buying stolen vehicles. They also urged vehicle owners to register their vehicles with the appropriate authorities and to install tracking devices to aid recovery in case of theft.
The recovery of the stolen vehicle has been described by security analysts as a significant breakthrough in the fight against vehicle theft and other cross-border criminal activities. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects.
As the investigation continues, the police have called on members of the public to report any suspicious vehicle transactions to the nearest police station. For now, the recovery serves as a warning to syndicates involved in vehicle theft that law enforcement agencies are closing in on their operations.
