Robbers Attack Kano Forex Market: One Person Killed

A nine-man robbery gang Tuesday stormed the popular Wapa Foreign Exchange market in Kano, carting away an undisclosed amount of money in both local and foreign currencies and killing one person in the process.

The attack, however, came barely 24 hours after four gunmen allegedly killed a young barber in Kawo area of the state, injuring two others.

Eyewitness account stated that the robbers had stormed the residence of one Alhaji Baba Hassan, a Bureau de Change house, at Layin Yan Goro of Wapa quarters, after disguising as customers..

The robbers, who were said to have rode on motor bikes and a Volkswagen Golf car on arrival, opened fire on their unsuspecting victim, causing stampede as people scampered for safety.

Acting spokesman of the state Police Command, Mr. Mustapha Abubakar, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed to THISDAY that, “the armed robbers numbering to nine stormed a house belonging to one Alhaji Baba Hassan, and robbed them of an undisclosed amount of money.”
He disclosed that one of the people inside the house which the robbers invaded, Muntari Basiru, was allegedly killed, after identifying one of the robbers.
It was also gathered that there was no resistance throughout the operation, as security operatives were said to have run for safety.

The Joint Task Force (JTF) operatives in the state, however, came around 10 minutes after the suspected robbers had successfully carried out their operations and had left the scene of the incident.

The Fagge bureau de change market, which was attacked, was about 300 meters away from the Fagge police division two check points.

A bureau de change owner, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “Can you just imagine, that nine armed robbers stormed this area, and there was no presence of security operatives, incidentally, the police station is just 300 meters away from us, with two check points, but this people operated unmolested and after 10 minutes the JTF arrived and cordoned off the area, when the robbers had already escaped.”