Police Recover ₦23 Million Worth of Gold Hidden by Woman for 15 Years in Mallamfatori
The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered gold valued at ₦23 million allegedly hidden for 15 years by a woman in Mallamfatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
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According to security sources, the discovery was made during a coordinated intelligence operation targeting long-term illegal mineral transactions in the Lake Chad axis. Officers reportedly traced the concealed gold to the woman after receiving credible information from community informants.
Investigators said the woman had kept the gold hidden since 2010, during the early escalation of Boko Haram insurgency, when many residents fled the area. She allegedly buried the items to keep them from being looted or confiscated during the period of unrest.
The police have taken the woman into custody as part of ongoing investigations to determine the source of the gold, its ownership status, and whether the case is connected to wider illegal mining networks operating in the region.
Authorities say the recovery is a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb illicit mineral trade in the North-East, which security agencies believe has contributed to financing criminal and extremist activities.
The police are expected to release more details as investigations continue.
Police Recover ₦23 Million Worth of Gold Hidden by Woman for 15 Years in Mallamfatori