The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has recovered two suspected stolen vehicles in Edo State through its National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS).
The recoveries, made in separate operations at the NVIS office in New Benin, Benin City, involved a Toyota Highlander and a Toyota Venza.
Both vehicles and suspects have been handed over to the police for further investigation, the Corps Public Education Officer, Deputy Corps Commander, Osondu Ohaeri, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday.
How the vehicles were traced
In the first case, officials of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) presented a silver Toyota Highlander for verification alongside a suspect.
During the verification process, FRSC personnel said discrepancies were observed after the registration number KSF730GK was queried on the NVIS portal, noting that while the registration number appeared valid, it had not been assigned to any vehicle.
Mr Ohaeri said further verification using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) immediately revealed a different registration number and ownership details, prompting a more detailed investigation.
“A telephone call was subsequently placed to the registered owner, who confirmed that the Toyota Highlander had been stolen in Lagos in June 2025. The owner also provided supporting evidence to substantiate the claim.
“The recovered vehicle is a Silver Toyota Highlander with Chassis Number JTEES41A492116703 and Engine Number 2GR1047752. The authentic registration details on the NVIS database correspond to Registration Number AKD339JN,” the statement said.
Mr Ohaeri said in a separate operation on 21 July, another suspected stolen vehicle, a Black Toyota Venza, was intercepted during a routine vehicle verification exercise.
He said the vehicle was brought to the office without a registration number for verification.
“As part of the verification process, FRSC personnel scanned the vehicle’s chassis using an OBD II Scanner to authenticate its VIN. Upon inputting the VIN into the NVIS portal, it was discovered that the vehicle was duly registered with Registration Number SAP446AG.
“FRSC officials immediately contacted the phone number linked to the registration record. Although the registered owner initially terminated the call, he later returned it and disclosed that he had been searching for the vehicle, explaining that it had disappeared with a woman since January 2026 in Sapele, Delta State.
“He subsequently confirmed the vehicle’s registration number, colour and other identifying details, thereby establishing ownership beyond doubt.
“The recovered vehicle is a Black Toyota Venza with Chassis Number 4T3ZA3BB5AU033884, lawfully registered to Ogbodo Gift Nyore of Sapele, Delta State,” the statement said.
Following due verification in both cases, according to the statement, the FRSC personnel promptly invited officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
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“Consequently, the recovered vehicles and the suspects were handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Edo State Police Command, for comprehensive investigation and possible prosecution.”
Speaking on the development, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, commended the professionalism, vigilance and technological competence displayed by the FRSC personnel involved in the successful recoveries.
He noted that the operations once again demonstrate the effectiveness of the NVIS in protecting legitimate vehicle ownership, exposing fraudulent vehicle documentation and strengthening national security.
According to him, the NVIS has continued to serve as a dependable technological platform for authenticating vehicle records, tracing stolen vehicles, detecting identity manipulation and providing credible intelligence to security and law enforcement agencies across the country.
He urged vehicle owners, intending buyers, motor dealers and relevant government agencies to always subject vehicles to proper verification through the FRSC’s National Vehicle Identification Scheme before concluding any transaction, stressing that due diligence remains the most effective safeguard against vehicle-related fraud and criminality.
