Gunmen Attacks Nasarawa Finance Ministry, Steals N100million Workers’ Salaries

Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers have attacked the Nasarawa State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning in Lafia and stole N100 million meant for payment of workers in the state.

It was gathered that the robbery took place on Thursday in the premises of the finance ministry, which is adjacent to the state’s Accountant General’s Office, where an array of security operatives were on guard.

Nasarawa Finance Ministry Lose N100m To Armed Robbers

Speaking with Daily Trust, an eyewitness said the suspected armed robbers trailed officials of the ministry from a commercial bank in Lafia where they went and withdrew cash in order to pay casual workers of the ministry.

“But it was in the ministry’s premises that the well-armed gunmen snatched the N100 million from the finance ministry’s officials that were trying to dislodged the cash from the vehicle that conveyed it to the cash room.

“In the process of snatching the said amount of money, the gunmen shot sporadically in the air that the ministry’s officials carrying the money and other staff of the ministry within the premises lay down low paving the way for the gunmen to snatch the N100 million effortlessly,” the eyewitness said.

The eyewitness said the robbery was successful because the ministry does not engage the services of security agencies in carrying out its activities.

“Officials of the ministry wouldn’t want to expend the ministry’s resources on security operatives hence they neglected services of security agencies in the day to day running of the ministry.”

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Mr. Haruna Ogbole, confirmed the robbery incident that investigations were ongoing, but he declined to disclose the amount that was carted away by the armed robbers.

 

KanyiDaily had also reported how Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule gifted brand new Lexus SUVs to 25 traditional rulers, valued at over N800 million, despite owing workers in the state.