Controversy as N700m gold allegedly goes missing at IGP’s residence

Members of the Arewa Traders Association (ATA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have accused the police of torture and extortion during their efforts to recover stolen gold valued at over N700 million.

According to a report by Daily Trust Sunday, the incident began when the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), operating under the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, arrested 34 individuals in connection with the theft. Those detained include gold merchants from Wuse Market, Abuja, and several Point of Sale (PoS) operators implicated in transactions related to the alleged theft.

The controversy stems from a petition addressed to Amnesty International, citing illegal detentions and human rights violations allegedly committed by the IRT.

The petition claims that the gold, belonging to a Chief Superintendent of Police referred to as Bukky, was allegedly stolen from the IGP’s residence in early May.

Allegedly, the stolen gold was traced to Wuse Market, where transactions involving Alhaji Auwal, a prime suspect now at large, took place.

The petition further alleges that those arrested, including members of the Gold Dealers Association and PoS operators, were subjected to severe treatment by the IRT in efforts to recover the stolen gold. Instances of alleged extortion and mistreatment include the case of Nuhu Usman, a gold dealer who reportedly purchased gold from Auwal and was coerced into paying an inflated sum under duress.

In response to the allegations, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesman for the Police Force, denied reports of a burglary at the IGP’s residence. He clarified that the incident occurred at the residence of a police officer in Abuja and not at the IGP’s official premises. Adejobi stated that investigations revealed Auwal and his associates were part of a larger syndicate involved in dealing with stolen jewelry, linking them to previous similar cases in the FCT.

The police spokesman affirmed that all arrests were conducted legally and under court orders, emphasizing the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to uphold due process and justice. However, Isa Usman, Deputy Chairman of ATA FCT, expressed concern over the alleged mistreatment of their members during the police operation in Wuse Market. Usman claimed that many of those arrested remain in custody without being formally charged, nearly a month after the incident.

Efforts to secure bail for the suspects have reportedly been hindered, despite a court injunction obtained on their behalf. The ATA continues to protest what they perceive as unjust treatment by the police, urging for a fair resolution to the case.

(Credit: Daily Trust)