Nigerian police recover stolen vehicles from Ghana and Niger

The Nigeria Police Force has successfully recovered several vehicles that were stolen in Nigeria and smuggled across borders to Ghana and Niger Republic, demonstrating how international cooperation can help tackle cross-border crime.

In a statement released on Sunday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, said the recoveries were made possible through coordinated operations involving INTERPOL.

The operations were led by INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Abuja, which serves as Nigeria’s main contact point with the international police network. Working with INTERPOL offices in other countries, Nigerian police were able to track down the stolen vehicles and bring them back home.

One of the recovered vehicles was a Toyota Prado from 2020 that belonged to a Nigerian government agency. The car was stolen during a robbery in Abuja and later found in Accra, Ghana’s capital city. “The vehicle, which belongs to a Federal Government Agency in Nigeria, was stolen during a robbery incident in Abuja recently,” the statement reads.

“Three suspects were arrested in Ghana and have since been charged to court in Accra. The vehicle was successfully returned to Nigeria and formally handed over to the concerned agency.”

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In a separate case, police recovered a 2018 Toyota Hilux that also belonged to a Nigerian government agency. This vehicle was stolen from a government employee in Utako District, in Abuja, on 18th October 2024. “Similarly, operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja recovered a Toyota Hilux (2018 model) belonging to another Federal Government agency in Nigeria. The vehicle had been stolen from a staff of the agency in Utako District, FCT Abuja, on 18th October 2024.”

“Through extensive investigation and international cooperation facilitated by INTERPOL NCB Niamey, the vehicle was tracked to Agadez, Niger Republic, and officially handed over at the Nigeria-Niger border (Ilela/Konni) to a senior staff representing the agency.”

The recovery process involved extensive detective work and coordination between Nigerian police and their counterparts in Niger Republic. The vehicle was eventually found in Agadez, a city in Niger, and was handed over to Nigerian officials at the border crossing between the two countries.

Adejobi also revealed that police are working on recovering two more stolen vehicles. These are a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV and a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUV, both of which were stolen from their owners in Abuja in May 2024 and later sold in Niamey, Niger’s capital city.

The police spokesperson encouraged all Nigerian citizens to take steps to protect their vehicles and make recovery easier if theft occurs. He advised people to register their vehicles on police electronic platforms and to “take all necessary precautions to enhance the chances of swift recovery in the unfortunate event of theft.”