Lost Treasure Recovered After 13 Years
The Borno State Police Command has made a remarkable recovery of gold coins valued at N23 million in the border community of Malam Fatori, located in Abadam Local Government Area. The discovery brings closure to a 13-year mystery dating back to the peak of Boko Haram insurgency in the region.
Miraculous Discovery in Border Community
According to police officers stationed at the border outpost with Niger Republic, the gold coins were found completely intact despite the years of conflict and displacement in the area. The precious items showed no damage or missing pieces, surprising both security officials and local residents.
Local government officials in Malam Fatori confirmed on Saturday that the recovered treasure belongs to an anonymous middle-aged woman who is a mother of six children. The woman had been living on the shores of Lake Chad when the miraculous recovery occurred.
Emotional Reunion After Years of Loss
The rightful owner expressed overwhelming joy upon recovering her family's treasure. "Today I am full of joy and excitement over the discovery of my treasured gold coins missing since 2012," she emotionally stated. "Boko Haram insurgents torched many houses and shops in our community during that terrible period."
She emphasized that despite the violent invasion of Malam Fatori by insurgents, not a single gold coin was missing or damaged when police eventually recovered them. The woman had presumed the coins lost forever after the 2012 attacks that forced many residents to flee their homes.
Security Boost for Lake Chad Region
A senior official from Abadam Council praised the police deployment for their role in protecting lives and property in the challenging Lake Chad region environment. Beyond the monetary value of the recovered coins, the official highlighted the broader significance of the police response.
The successful recovery operation serves as a morale booster for both military and other security agencies operating in the Lake Chad Basin, which encompasses eight Local Government Areas in Borno State. This achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the region.
The incident has brought renewed hope to residents of border communities affected by years of insurgency, showing that normalcy and security are gradually returning to the area.
