Police Recover N23.6m Gold Buried 15 Years Ago by Boko Haram Victim

Police in Borno State have successfully recovered a stash of gold jewelry valued at N23.6 million, which a local woman had buried 15 years ago while desperately fleeing a Boko Haram attack in her town.

Dependable NG reports that the incident occurred in Mallamfatori, located in the Abadam local government area of Borno State. The owner of the gold explained that she was forced to hide the precious items in the sand before she fled the town amidst the chaos and violence of the insurgency.

After a long period of displacement, the woman recently returned to the area and reported the matter to the police, formally requesting assistance in locating and recovering the buried belongings.

ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, confirmed that officers conducted a search of the area based precisely on the woman’s description. The search successfully yielded the valuable assets, which included “22cc of gold valued at about N20m” and “a gold bracelet with a chain worth N3.6m.” The total recovered value is estimated at N23.6 million.

The police noted that the case vividly demonstrates the extent to which the Boko Haram insurgency has forced numerous residents to abandon valuable personal belongings while escaping the widespread violence.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Naziru Abdulmajid issued a commendation to the Mallamfatori Divisional Police Officer and his team, praising their “honesty, professionalism, and integrity.” He stated that their actions reflect the core values of the Nigeria Police Force and significantly contribute to building public trust. CP Abdulmajid concluded by restating the command’s firm commitment to protecting lives and property and urged residents to continue cooperating closely with the police to strengthen security across the state.