Borno woman uncovers gold buried 15 years ago while fleeing Boko Haram

A Borno woman has returned to her hometown of Mallamfatori after 15 years and unearthed a stash of gold she buried in panic while fleeing Boko Haram fighters.

Fifteen years ago, as insurgents advanced, the woman—who asked to remain unnamed for security reasons—wrapped her inheritance of gold coins and jewelry in cloth and buried it behind her home before escaping the violence.

Upon her return, she approached the local Divisional Police Officer for help in locating the long-buried treasure.

Guided only by her memory of a now-vanished tree stump and collapsed house corner, officers carefully searched the area.

Their efforts paid off when they uncovered 22 gold coins, a bracelet, and a chain—items now worth several million naira.

Witnesses said the woman broke down in tears upon receiving the recovered gold, which carried not only monetary value but also sentimental ties to her late mother.

Mallamfatori’s Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, commended the officers for their professionalism and integrity, highlighting the recovery as a source of hope for other returnees still rebuilding their lives after years of displacement.

Reflecting on the discovery, the woman said, “It feels like my past waited for me. Everything else was lost, but this survived.”

Her story comes amid a gradual resettlement in the northern Borno border town as security conditions improve, offering a poignant symbol of resilience, memory, and hope.