The Abia State Police Command has launched a search operation for a Toyota Corolla belonging to a Chief Magistrate after the vehicle was reportedly stolen outside a court premises in Umuahia, the state capital.

The incident has prompted the police to seek assistance from members of the public in efforts to recover the vehicle and identify those responsible for the theft.

Confirming the development on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said the matter had been officially reported and investigations were already underway.

“The above was reported, and investigation is ongoing,” she stated.

Chinaka assured residents that the command was treating the case seriously and encouraged anyone with relevant information to come forward and assist security agencies.

Recounting the incident, the owner of the vehicle, Chief Magistrate Mrs. Ngozi Pearl Lekwa of Court 2, Umuahia, said she parked her black Toyota Corolla outside the court premises along Finbarrs Road at about 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday before proceeding to her office for official duties.

According to her, she planned to spend only a short time in the office before leaving later in the day for personal engagements.

However, when she stepped out of the court premises shortly after noon, she discovered that the vehicle had disappeared from where it was parked.

Mrs. Lekwa said a friend later informed her that she had seen the vehicle being driven away at high speed shortly after it left the vicinity of Market Square.

The witness reportedly observed a man behind the steering wheel but did not see the magistrate in the car. Believing that the driver may have been sent on an errand by the owner, she did not immediately raise an alarm, although she found the manner in which the vehicle was being driven suspicious.

The magistrate said she had not authorised anyone to use the vehicle and still had the car key in her possession when she realised it was missing.

She further disclosed that she had ordered steering locks for her two vehicles a day before the incident as an added security measure.

According to her, only one of the locks had been delivered, while the second one, intended for the stolen vehicle, had yet to arrive before the theft occurred.

The missing vehicle is a black 2008 Toyota Corolla, popularly known as a “bank car.”

Mrs. Lekwa confirmed that the matter has been formally reported to the police and appealed to the public to remain vigilant.

She urged anyone who spots the vehicle or has information that could help investigators trace it and apprehend the suspects to immediately contact security agencies.