In a brazen burglary incident, the official residence of Ghana’s Ambassador to Nigeria was invaded by unknown assailants who made away with valuables, including plasma television sets, gas cylinders, and bags of rice.
The break-in occurred during the early hours of Thursday, July 11, at the diplomat’s residence in Maitama, one of Abuja’s most secure and upscale areas.
According to a report by Punch Nigeria, the intruders gained entry by cutting the protective wire on the perimeter fence and forcing open the back door of the building. When visited on Saturday, the scene had already been cordoned off with police crime scene tape, with signs of forced entry still visible.
A domestic staff member at the residence recounted: “Around 2 am that day, there was a power cut, so I went back to switch on the generator. About 10 minutes later, electricity was restored, so I went back to turn off the generator. At about 5 am, I went around to check and saw a window open and a burglary-proof rod missing. The back door was open too. That’s when I noticed the wires on the fence had been cut. I called the police officer on duty from his room. They took away two plasma TVs, gas cylinders, and two bags of rice.”
Police Launch Investigation
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the burglary, describing it as a serious incident. Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa stated, “It was a burglary issue that happened last week. The police have started an investigation.”
Additionally, a spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident and revealed that the Commissioner of Police had visited the scene personally.
“The Commissioner of Police was there, and we are investigating,” she said.
The incident has sparked growing concerns about the safety of diplomatic missions in Abuja, especially within high-security zones like Maitama. Authorities say efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the suspects responsible for the breach at the Ghana Ambassador’s residence.
