FRSC Recovers Vehicle Stolen in 2023, Uncovers Fake Number Plate in Anambra
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has recovered a suspected stolen Toyota Camry nearly three years after it was reported missing, following the detection of discrepancies in its registration records through the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS).
The breakthrough was recorded on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Nnewi Motor Licensing Authority (MLA) Office in Anambra State, when an FRSC NVIS Desk Officer discovered inconsistencies while processing a routine vehicle licence application.
According to the FRSC, verification on the NVIS portal revealed that the vehicle already had an existing registration profile in its database, prompting further checks and an immediate investigation.
The registered owner, Ndem John Okori, a serving officer of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the 55 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Aba, was contacted and confirmed that the Toyota Camry had been stolen from his residence in Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, on June 23, 2023.
Okori said the vehicle was stolen during a heavy downpour in the early hours of the day and that he had reported the incident to the police, but the vehicle had remained unrecovered until the latest development.
Following confirmation of the vehicle’s status, the FRSC alerted the Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force, Nnewi Area Command, who deployed operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) to commence investigation.
The vehicle registration agent who submitted the application documents was subsequently invited for questioning and provided information that assisted the investigation.
The applicant who had sought to obtain proof of ownership for the vehicle was later arrested when he arrived to collect the processed documents, the FRSC said.
The suspect subsequently led police operatives and FRSC officials to his residence, where the suspected stolen Toyota Camry was recovered at about 5:06 p.m. on August 4.
The vehicle has since been taken into police custody at the Nnewi Area Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Further checks by the FRSC revealed that the vehicle was displaying registration number FGG851AH, which the agency said does not exist in its National Vehicle Identification Scheme database.
The discovery, according to the FRSC, exposed an apparent attempt to conceal the vehicle’s identity using an unauthorised registration number.
The recovered vehicle was identified with the following particulars:
Original registration number: AKD291CZ
Make: Toyota
Model: Camry
Vehicle type: Saloon
Colour: Gold
Chassis number: JT2BG22K0X0264403
Engine number: 5S0793688
Reacting to the recovery, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, commended the FRSC personnel involved for their vigilance, professionalism and effective use of the NVIS platform.
Mohammed said the development demonstrated the strategic importance of the National Vehicle Identification Scheme in combating vehicle theft, detecting fraudulent documentation, strengthening national security and supporting law enforcement agencies in tracing stolen vehicles.
He urged members of the public to verify the status and ownership history of vehicles before purchasing them and to ensure that all registration and ownership transactions were conducted through authorised channels.
The Corps Marshal also reaffirmed the FRSC’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration and deploying technology to tackle criminal activities involving stolen vehicles and fraudulent registration records.
The latest recovery highlights the growing role of vehicle identification and registration databases in assisting security agencies to detect stolen vehicles and disrupt attempts to disguise their identities.
By TimesNG