Suspected armed robbers reportedly invaded the residences of two senior aides to President Muhammadu Buhari inside the precinct of the Presidential Villa.
The incident, which happened on May 9, prompted the Chief of staff, Ibrahim Gambari and admin officer, Abubakar Maikano, to abandon their residences, reports claim.
“Their houses were robbed and the robbers packed money and other valuable assets from both houses,” an aide disclosed
Gambari, who was given an official residence at the Defence House, has not been living there, as he preferring instead to live inside Aso Rock and be close to the president.
It is not clearly whether or not valuable documents of state interest were carted away by the intruders, but reports claim the residences were thoroughly ransacked.
“The robbers took away as much as possible from both places,” a security officer that confirmed the incident said. “What is more unfortunate is that no one has been arrested.” an insider claim
Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu confirmed this in a tweet, saying there was a “foolish attempt” to burgle the residence of the Chief of Staff but it turned out to be unsuccessful.
Nigeria’s presidential palace, just west of the city centre has long been seen as highly fortified and far beyond the reach of burglars, bandits and other criminals currently holding the vast swathes of the country to ransom.
This development is therefore, an attestation to the cry of Nigerians on the level of insecurity in the country.
