The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, in partnership with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL, Nigeria), has successfully retrieved the official vehicle of the Secretary of the Commission, which was stolen in November 2023.
During the handover ceremony, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed deep appreciation to INTERPOL and the Commission’s staff for their relentless efforts in locating and recovering the vehicle.
“I want to extend my gratitude to INTERPOL in both Nigeria and Ghana, the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana, and our diligent staff member, Akinsola Akinboye, for their hard work in tracking and recovering the vehicle,” Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said. “Nearly a year ago, the vehicle was stolen, and we are also thankful for Dr. Bassi’s safety. The successful recovery of the car from Ghana is truly a historic achievement for us.”
INTERPOL’s representative on vehicle crimes and investigation, Onyebuchi Matthew, commended the teamwork that made the recovery possible. He noted, “The report of the stolen vehicle was made almost a year ago, and we immediately initiated communications with our counterparts. Initially, the car wasn’t in Ghana but was later traced there. Special thanks to NiDCOM, particularly Akinsola Akinboye, for his vital role.”
He emphasized the importance of quickly reporting stolen vehicles to INTERPOL, adding, “We have recovered several stolen vehicles both from Nigeria and internationally. However, delays in reporting make it more difficult to track them. Prompt reporting ensures the vehicle can be added to our database for tracking.”
Matthew also pointed out that quick reporting helps prevent innocent buyers from unknowingly purchasing stolen vehicles, facilitating faster recovery.
Akinsola Akinboye, the NiDCOM staff member pivotal in the recovery process, expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa and the security agencies for their confidence and support. He said, “It started like a joke, but I appreciate Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the security teams for trusting me to lead the effort to recover the vehicle.”
Sule Bassi, Secretary to NiDCOM and the owner of the recovered vehicle, shared his relief, recalling the ordeal of the armed robbery. “The trauma from the incident was difficult to bear, but escaping unhurt was a miracle,” he said. “I had just arrived home when gunmen attacked, but I managed to escape. Seeing the vehicle again brings back a lot of memories. We prayed for two things: the recovery of the car and the identification of those responsible.”
This successful recovery underscores the power of cross-border collaboration and highlights the importance of timely reporting of stolen vehicles.
