DABIRI-EREWA COMMENDS INTERPOL, NiDCOM STAFF FOR RECOVERING STOLEN VEHICLE IN ACCRA
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), in collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL, Nigeria), have successfully recovered the official vehicle of the Secretary of the Commission, which was stolen in November 2023.
During the handover of the recovered car, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed her gratitude to INTERPOL and the staff of the Commission for their hard efforts in tracking and collecting the vehicle.
She said, “I want to thank INTERPOL in both Nigeria and Ghana, the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana, and our dedicated NiDCOM staff member, Akinsola Akinboye for their hard work in tracking and recovering the vehicle.
“Almost a year ago, this car was stolen, and we are grateful for Dr. Bassi’s life as well. Through diligent tracking, we were able to recover the car from Ghana. This recovery is truly historic for us,” said Dabiri-Erewa.
Onyebuchi Matthew, the INTERPOL delegate in charge of vehicle crimes and investigations, acknowledged the teamwork that resulted in the recovery.
According to him, “The report of the stolen vehicle was made nearly a year ago, and we immediately began communication with our counterparts. Initially, the vehicle wasn’t in Ghana but was later traced there. Special thanks to NiDCOM staff, particularly Akinsola Akinboye, for his vital contributions.
“The collaboration between INTERPOL and NiDCOM was key in making this recovery possible,” Matthew stated.
He further highlighted the importance of prompt reporting of stolen vehicles to INTERPOL, “We’ve recovered multiple vehicles stolen from Nigeria and abroad. However, many Nigerians fail to report stolen vehicles promptly, which makes recovery more challenging. It’s crucial to report stolen vehicles to INTERPOL immediately, so they can be registered in our database.”
Matthew also noted that, “This will prevent innocent third-party buyers from unknowingly purchasing stolen vehicles and help facilitate their recovery.”
NiDCOM employee Akinsola Akinboye, who was instrumental in the car’s retrieval, thanked Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the security services for their confidence and assistance.
“It all started like a joke, but I want to thank Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the security agencies for believing in me and giving me the go-ahead to recover the vehicle,” he said.
Dr. Sule Bassi, Secretary to NiDCOM, whose vehicle was recovered, also shared his relief and gratitude, “The trauma of the armed robbery was difficult to overcome, but escaping it was a miracle.”
Adding further, “I had just arrived home when gunmen attacked me. Luckily, I managed to run to safety, and my wife was unharmed. Seeing the vehicle brings back many memories. We prayed for two things: the recovery of the car and the exposure of the culprits responsible for the crime.”
The vehicle’s successful recovery serves as a reminder of the value of international cooperation and the urgency of promptly reporting stolen automobiles.