In a remarkable display of the effectiveness of technology in combating crime, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the recovery of 1,519 stolen vehicles over the past year.
These recoveries were made possible through the Force’s innovative e-policing strategies, particularly the reactivated Central Motor Registry Portal (e-CMR), which has become a critical tool in tackling vehicle-related crimes.
An additional 52 vehicles recovered in January 2025 alone.
According to a statement by the Nigeria Police Force, the e-CMR, a digitalized repository of licensed motor vehicles in Nigeria, has enabled the police to track, flag, and recover stolen vehicles with unprecedented efficiency.
Since its reintroduction, over 400,000 vehicles have been registered on the platform, and 1,011 stolen vehicles have been reported. Among these, three vehicles reported stolen in October 2024 were recovered in different parts of the country, with one already returned to its owner at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The Police stated, “As part of the relentless efforts towards combating vehicle-related crimes, the Force wishes to announce a recent successful operation that led to the recovery of stolen vehicles, utilizing the electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) system. The Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) is a digitalized repository of licenced motor vehicles in the country, as provided for in the law. Since the initiative began, successes have been, and are still being recorded by the Force. Some of these successes include: i.Members of the public, especially genuine vehicle owners are providing their vehicle information into the database; with over 400,000 vehicles registered. ii.Instant reporting of vehicle theft – 1,011 stolen vehicles reported“
One of the most notable recoveries involved a Toyota Highlander stolen in January 2021. The vehicle’s rightful owner, unaware of the e-CMR system at the time of the theft, reported the incident two years later through the Stolen Vehicle Report Portal.
The breakthrough came when the buyer of the stolen vehicle in Kano attempted to register it on the e-CMR platform. The system flagged the vehicle as stolen, prompting an investigation that led to its recovery in Enugu State.
The vehicle is now in police custody in Abuja, and the individuals involved in its sale and purchase are set to face prosecution.
The police stated “In the instant case for this press briefing, a Toyota Highlander stolen in 2021 (4 years ago) was recovered by the Police last week in Enugu State and is presently in Police custody in Abuja. The vehicle was stolen on 13th January, 2021. Two years later, the rightful owner learnt about the Nigeria Police’s Stolen Vehicle Report Portal and reported the theft. The vehicle was sold to a buyer in Kano who decided to provide the vehicle details to the Police through the E-CMR portal and obtain a certificate to that effect. In the process, the system flagged it as Stolen based on the earlier report. Investigation led to the recovery of the vehicle in Enugu State. The seller/receiver and buyer will have their date in Court soon. The owner is right here with us and has gladly opted to speak to the Press on his experience.“
In addition to the Toyota Highlander, the NPF has recorded several other successes through the e-CMR platform. Recently, two stolen vehicles were recovered in Kano State, while seven more vehicles reported stolen on the platform are currently under investigation. The Force is also investigating 5,877 vehicles with conflicting information to determine their status.
The IGP, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force will continue to invest in and adopt modern technological solutions to combat crime effectively.
