The Gombe State Police Command has successfully recovered a stolen Toyota Highlander SUV that was stolen in September 2021 and returned to its rightful owner after nearly five years.The vehicle was smuggled into the Republic of Niger in 2023 and re-entered Nigeria through the Illela border in Sokoto State in October 2025.It was then illegally resold in Kaduna State before being detected in Gombe State during a re-registration process.

The handover ceremony took place on July 24, 2026, at the Police Command Headquarters, marking the end of an extensive inter-state tracking operation.

Security officials highlighted that the investigation into the theft and cross-border movement is ongoing to ensure all involved in the syndicate face justice.

The owner expressed gratitude to the police, State Intelligence Department, and Federal Road Safety Corps for their teamwork that led to the recovery.This case underscores the importance of inter-agency collaboration in solving long-standing crimes and recovering stolen assets.