NIGERIA: Police Reaffirm Commitment To ICT-Driven Crime Prevention, Recover 1,519 Stolen Vehicles

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to using electronic and ICT-based strategies to combat crime across the country.

The assurance was given in a press statement signed by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, and released via Twitter on Thursday.

According to the statement, the police recorded the successful recovery of 1,519 stolen vehicles over the past year, with 52 additional recoveries made in January 2025.

The police attributed these achievements to the Electronic Central Motor Registry, a digital platform designed to enhance vehicle security and aid in crime detection.

The statement explained that since the initiative began, over 400,000 vehicles have been registered on the platform, while 1,011 stolen vehicles have been reported, with many still under investigation.

It noted that several stolen vehicles had been traced and recovered in various parts of the country, including Kano State, and that 5,877 vehicles with conflicting registration details are being investigated.

The police highlighted a recent success story involving a Toyota Highlander stolen in 2021, which was recovered last week in Enugu State.

The vehicle was flagged as stolen when a buyer in Kano attempted to register it on the e-CMR platform. The system identified it based on an earlier theft report, leading to its recovery.

The seller and buyer are now facing prosecution.

To further improve access to vehicle security verification, the police announced the development of a USSD module that will enable Nigerians to check a vehicle’s status using mobile phones.

Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun reiterated the Force’s commitment to leveraging technology to combat crime and urged citizens to use the e-CMR system.

He encouraged Nigerians to report vehicle thefts and other suspicious activities through the official police platforms.

The police assured the public that they would continue to enhance their crime-fighting measures to protect lives and property across the country.