Maiduguri, Borno State – December 2, 2025 – In a remarkable story of survival, resilience, and unexpected fortune, a woman from Mallamfatori, headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area in northern Borno State, has recovered gold worth N23.6 million that she buried in the sand while fleeing a Boko Haram attack 15 years ago.
As insurgents advanced on the community around 2010, the young woman, then in her early twenties, had only moments to secure her most precious possession: a small collection of gold coins and jewelry, her only inheritance from her deceased mother. In a state of panic, she wrapped the items in cloth, placed them inside a clay jar, and hurriedly buried it behind her family home before joining thousands of others in a desperate flight to safety.
After more than a decade in displacement, she recently returned to Mallamfatori — a town that had remained largely abandoned for years due to persistent insecurity — and approached the local police for assistance in locating the buried treasure.
On Monday, December 1, 2025, the Borno State Police Command officially confirmed the successful recovery. Police spokesperson ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso stated that officers from the Mallamfatori Division located and retrieved 22 cubic centimeters (cc) of gold valued at approximately N20 million, along with a gold bracelet and chain worth N3.6 million — bringing the total value to N23.6 million.
In an official statement, the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, commended the Divisional Police Officer and his team for their professionalism and integrity:
“The woman, who fled Mallamfatori during a Boko Haram attack 15 years ago, recently returned and sought police assistance to retrieve items she had buried in the sand while escaping the incident.
Through diligent and coordinated efforts, the officers successfully recovered 22 cc of gold valued at approximately N20 million, as well as a gold bracelet with chain worth N3.6 million.
Their actions reflect the core values of the Nigeria Police Force and further strengthen public confidence in law enforcement.”
CP Abdulmajid reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged residents to continue cooperating with security agencies.
The recovery took place after several days of careful digging guided by the woman’s memory of the burial spot. Despite the passage of time, shifting sands, and the area having been used by returnees for farming, the jar was found intact, with its contents remarkably preserved.
For the woman, now in her late thirties, the gold represents far more than monetary value. “It’s all I had left of my mother,” she reportedly told local journalists, her voice breaking with emotion. She plans to use part of the proceeds to rebuild her life, support her children’s education, and reconstruct her family home.
Mallamfatori, located near Nigeria’s border with Niger and close to Lake Chad, was one of the first communities to fall under sustained Boko Haram control in the early years of the insurgency. For over a decade, it remained a no-go area, with only military patrols venturing in. Recent improvements in security, driven by sustained operations by the Nigerian Army and the Multinational Joint Task Force, have enabled gradual resettlement.
The woman’s return and successful recovery have been hailed by locals as a powerful symbol of hope. Community leaders described the event as a “miracle” and a sign that normalcy is slowly returning to areas long scarred by violence.
Women’s groups in Maiduguri have cited the case as inspiration, noting that many displaced persons buried valuables during sudden attacks and may now feel encouraged to return and reclaim what they can. The story has spread rapidly across Borno’s IDP camps, offering a rare moment of joy amid years of hardship.
Police authorities say the incident underscores the importance of community trust in law enforcement, especially in areas recovering from prolonged conflict. The fact that officers handed over the full recovered items without incident has been widely praised and shared on social media as evidence of positive change within the force.
As Borno continues its long journey toward peace and reconstruction, this extraordinary recovery serves as a poignant reminder that even in the aftermath of terror, life finds ways to endure — and sometimes, buried treasures, both material and emotional, can still be reclaimed.
