Story By: Akua Oteng Amponsah
The official residence of Ghana’s Ambassador to Nigeria has been burgled in the upscale Maitama area of Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, July 11, when unknown assailants cut through the protective wire on the perimeter fence and broke into the property through the back door.
According to a domestic staff member, a temporary power outage may have facilitated the break-in.
“Around 2am that day, there was a power cut, so I went to the back to switch on the generator. About 10 minutes later, electricity was restored, so I went back to turn off the generator,” the staff member explained.
The staff member discovered the burglary at around 5am, finding an open window and a removed burglary-proof rod.
“I checked the back door and found it open too. I then noticed that the wires on the fence had been cut. That was when I called the police officer on duty from his room,” the staff member added.
The burglars made away with valuables, including two plasma TV sets, gas cylinders, and two bags of rice.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria has confirmed the incident, with spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa stating that an official investigation is underway.
“It was a burglary issue that happened last week. The police have started investigation,” Ebienfa said.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has also confirmed the incident, with spokesperson Josephine Adeh stating that the Commissioner of Police had personally visited the crime scene.
“The Commissioner of Police was there, and we are investigating,” she said.
Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the culprits, as the break-in has raised concerns about the security of diplomatic premises in Abuja.
