April salary of workers in Kebbi LG ‘snatched by robbers’

Shehu Bagudu, chairman, Gwandu local government area of Kebbi, says robbers stole N9m April salary of workers of in the departments of health and agriculture.

Bagudu said the robbery took place on May 24.

“The incident happened when the cashier of the area, Bashir Gwandu, collected the money from the bank and went to his house,” he said.

“As he was about to open the gate of his house and unknown to him, the thieves had been trailing him from the bank.

“As he was opening the gate to enter his house, the suspects who had laid ambush for him, attacked him, snatched his car with the money inside and drove away.

“The car was later discovered in Tambuwal local government area of Sokoto state.”

Bagadu said he is shielding the cashier, who is his son-in-law. He said he could not stop the police from doing their proper investigation.

“I have not slept ever since this incident happened,” he said.

“The boy is my son-in-law ever since before I became the chairman of the council, and he is known to be trustworthy in the council.

“We wrote to the ministry for local government and chieftancy affairs on the incident, but we are still waiting for their response.

“At the same time, the criminal investigation department of the state police command is on top of the situation, doing proper investigation.”

He added that the council had held a series of meetings with the affected workers, saying, “the cashier’s family is planning to pay part of the stolen money before the arraignment of their brother in court on June 4″.

Mustapha Suleiman, the police public relations officer who confirmed the incident, said: “The cashier has just been granted bail after the necessary investigation and he was given bail on the surety of a former sole administrator in the council.”