Nigeria Police Reaffirm Commitment to Tech-Driven Crime Fighting as 1,519 Stolen Vehicles Are Recovered


 The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reiterated its dedication to integrating electronic and information communication technology (ICT) into its crime-fighting strategies to enhance policing across the country.

This commitment was reaffirmed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, as the Force announced significant progress in curbing vehicle-related crimes through the Central Motor Registry Portal (e-CMR) and other digital platforms.

The Police disclosed that in the past year alone, 1,519 stolen vehicles were successfully recovered through the e-CMR platform, with 52 additional recoveries recorded in January 2025.

The initiative has proven effective in tracking and retrieving stolen automobiles, thanks to the cooperation of citizens who register their vehicles in the system.

The Force highlighted a recent case in which a Toyota Highlander, stolen in 2021, was recovered last week in Enugu State. The vehicle’s rightful owner had reported the theft on the Nigeria Police’s Stolen Vehicle Report Portal two years after it was stolen.

However, the case gained momentum when a buyer in Kano attempted to register the vehicle via the e-CMR platform, triggering an alert that flagged it as stolen. Following an investigation, the vehicle was successfully recovered, and the individuals involved will soon face prosecution.

The Police revealed several milestones achieved since the launch of the e-CMR initiative:

  • Over 400,000 vehicles have been registered in the database.
  • 1,011 stolen vehicles have been reported and are under investigation.
  • In October 2024, three stolen vehicles were recovered in different locations.
  • Recently, two stolen vehicles were retrieved in Kano State through the platform.
  • 5,877 vehicles with conflicting registration details are currently being investigated.

To further improve accessibility, the Police announced plans to introduce a USSD-based module, which will allow Nigerians to verify a vehicle’s status using basic mobile phones. This feature, once fully integrated with telecom operators, will provide an additional layer of security for car owners and buyers.

The IGP urged Nigerians to leverage the available digital policing tools, such as the Police Rescue Me App, Police VGS Emergency App, and the e-CMR platform, to assist law enforcement in tackling vehicle-related crimes. Citizens are encouraged to register their vehicles and report stolen ones through the official portals:

Reaffirming the Police Force’s commitment to modern security solutions, the IGP emphasized that technology-driven policing will continue to be a priority in ensuring the safety of Nigerians and their properties.

LV


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