The chairman of Gwandu Local Government Area council of Kebbi state, Shehu Bagudu has confirmed that suspected armed robbers stole over N9m meant for the payment of April salary of workers.
Bagudu told newsmen in Gwandu on Thursday that the incident happened 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.
“As he was about to open the gate of his house, 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,” he said.
The council chairman also dismissed the rumour that he protecting the cashier, who is his son-in-law.
Bagudu said he was not in any way trying to stop the Police from investigating the matter.
“I have not slept ever since this incident happened.
“The boy is my son-in-law ever 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 Chieftaincy 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 said.
He stated that the council had held a series of meetings with the workers that were affected by the sad incident, 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.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mustapha Suleiman, who confirmed the incident, said the CID had been investigating the cashier since the occurrence of the incident.
“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,” he said.
