A woman has miraculously recovered gold valuables worth N23.6 million, which she buried in the sand 15 years ago while fleeing a Boko Haram attack in Mallamfatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
The woman, whose identity was not revealed for security reasons, reportedly hid the treasure—consisting of gold coins, jewellery, and a bracelet—during the height of Boko Haram’s violent incursion in the community.
According to sources, the then-young woman had only seconds to act as insurgents advanced. In a frantic attempt to protect her inheritance—a small pouch of gold left to her by her late mother—she wrapped the items in cloth, sealed them in a jar, and buried them in the sand before escaping the town.
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Fifteen years later, after returning to her ancestral home, she sought the help of security operatives to retrieve the long-hidden valuables.
Confirming the development in a statement on Monday, December 1, 2025, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, said officers of the Mallamfatori Division successfully assisted in the recovery.
He revealed that the police retrieved 22 cc of gold valued at approximately N20 million and a gold bracelet with chain worth N3.6 million.
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“The Commissioner of Police, Borno State Police Command, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, PSC, commended the Divisional Police Officer of Mallamfatori Division and his team for their exemplary professionalism and integrity in recovering valuable property belonging to a female resident,” the statement read.
ASP Daso added that the officers’ efforts demonstrated the dedication and honesty of the Nigeria Police Force, further boosting public confidence in the security agency.
“The Commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, while urging residents to continue cooperating with the police for enhanced security across the state,” he added.