The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has successfully recovered a vehicle stolen since 2015, in Ebonyi State, in a major boost to ongoing efforts to combat vehicle theft and related crimes in Nigeria.
According to an official statement, the breakthrough occurred during a routine verification exercise on March 24, 2026, at the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) Desk Office in Ebonyi.
The process began when an official from the Motor Licensing Authority (MLA), under the State Board of Internal Revenue, presented documents for vehicle registration. During the standard verification procedure, the NVIS Desk Officer detected discrepancies in the vehicle’s records.
Further investigation revealed that the car was originally registered to Mr. Adeka Emmanuel Akoji, who confirmed it had been stolen in Benue State on August 13, 2015.
Following this discovery, the FRSC immediately notified the Nigeria Police, leading to a coordinated operation. On March 27, 2026, at approximately 1:50 p.m., operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Abakaliki recovered the vehicle.
The recovered car, a Toyota Camry, was found with its original registration number (MKD659AG) but had been re-registered with a different plate number (NKE500AE), indicating an attempt to conceal its identity.
The FRSC described the recovery as evidence of the effectiveness of the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) in safeguarding vehicle ownership and enhancing national security.
Reacting to the development, FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, commended the officers involved for their professionalism and praised the collaboration with the Nigeria Police.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to leveraging technology and intelligence-driven strategies to eliminate stolen and illegally documented vehicles from Nigerian roads.
The FRSC also urged the public, especially prospective vehicle buyers, to verify all vehicle documents through the NVIS platform before purchase or registration.
The Corps added that it will continue nationwide enforcement and monitoring to curb vehicle theft and ensure road safety compliance.
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