A Toyota Camry reported stolen in Benue on August 13, 2015, has been recovered 11 years later in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The vehicle was discovered during a routine verification exercise at the National Vehicle Identification Scheme, NVIS, Desk Office. According to officials, the recovery process began when documents for vehicle registration were submitted by the Motor Licensing Authority, MLA, under the Ebonyi State Board of Internal Revenue.
The NVIS Desk Officer conducted standard verification checks, which revealed inconsistencies in the vehicle's records. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle was originally registered to Mr. Adeka Akoji, who confirmed that it had been stolen from him in Benue on August 13, 2015. The FRSC alerted the Nigeria Police, leading to a coordinated operation that resulted in the recovery of the vehicle on March 27, 2026.
The vehicle, a Toyota Camry saloon, was found to have been re-registered with a new plate number, NKE500AE, after bearing its original registration number, MKD659AG, in an apparent attempt to conceal its identity. Corps Marshal Malam Shehu Mohammed praised the officers involved for their professionalism and commended the collaboration between the FRSC and the police.
The recovery of a stolen vehicle 11 years after it went missing highlights the effectiveness of the National Vehicle Identification Scheme in protecting vehicle ownership and strengthening national security. However, it also raises questions about the ease with which stolen vehicles can be re-registered and resold on Nigerian roads. The FRSC's resolve to leverage technology and intelligence-based approaches to eliminate stolen vehicles is commendable, but it remains to be seen whether this will translate into tangible results. With the increasing number of vehicles on Nigerian roads, it is crucial that motorists and stakeholders ensure proper documentation and verification of vehicles through the NVIS platform. This will help prevent the resale of stolen vehicles and reduce the risk of accidents caused by unroadworthy vehicles.
