Thieves Invade Katsina Govt House, Steal N31m

For the second time this year, thieves have allegedly broken into the Katsina State government house and in the process made away with a whopping N31 million.

A credible source hinted that the robbery incident took place on Sunday, July 31, 2022, when some yet-to-be-identified persons broke into the Government House’s Financial Controller office and carted away a sack containing the said money.

According to the source, the robbery incident took place while the Financial Controller, Salisu Batsari, was still at the office and when approached, he volunteered thus; “I didn’t see the CCTV footage but you know it’ll be part of what the police will request.

“But I heard that the footage revealed a man wearing a face mask getting into the office through a half-shut window”.

On his part, the Director General of New Media to the Governor, Al Amin Isa, confirmed the theft to journalists but withheld the details of the stolen money, explaining that the state government, in conjunction with the police, is already on top of the issue.

Assuring that the culprits would be punished accordingly, Al Amin said; “When the first theft occurred, the government took measures to avert a reoccurrence but you know how cunning these people could be.”

An insider further revealed that those arrested in connection with the theft had since been left off the hook, saying; “When on Monday the State government found out about the theft, it quickly involved the police and an investigation was launched.

“The FC (financial controller) and some of his staff as well some security officers that were on duty on a fateful day were invited by the police for questioning.”

However, the insider claimed only the police and a few top officials were privy to the reasons those initially arrested were released without further investigations.

Earlier in July 2022, the police in Katsina state said it was investigating the alleged stealing of N61 million from a cashier at the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Darma.

Police reports indicated that he was allegedly attacked by gunmen while traveling with three bags filled with N61 million cash and shot in the arm before the money was stolen.

The gunmen reportedly followed Darma from the bank but he didn’t stop when they tried to stop his car around the Katsina Steel Rolling Company roundabout. Instead, he returned to the metropolitan city and the gunmen continued chasing his car.

Also, another reliable source hinted that about N16m was stolen from the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in 2020. At that time, two government officials at the SSG’s office and a security guard were arrested in connection with the incident.