Traders in Ilorin, Kwara State are petrified over the mysterious disappearance of their sales proceeds in recent time.
The unidentified robbers are said to operate in ways that are yet to be discerned by their victims.
It was gathered that the robbery incidents which occurred in same pattern have been recorded at Gambari, Oja Gboro, Ipata market, Oke-fomo market, and in the taxi cabs in recent time .
Recounting their ordeals in separate interviews with our reporter at different locations within Ilorin, metropolis, the victims said the robbers used new mode of operation, which is inexplicable.
One of the victims, Sekinat Shehu said, ” The money stolen from me was meant for my sister’s wedding. Family members and friends contributed N500,000, which was kept in my care.
“I boarded Keke Napep alongside two other passengers from Gambari to Mandate Market to give the person that will supply us fabrics the money , but the N500, 000 disappeared in transit. ”
Similarly, a meat seller at Ipata market, Nimat Lawal, who was saddled with the responsibility to supply cloth for wedding of a member of association, said she fell victim, recently.
Recalling the incident, the trader said she collided with a woman at Oja-Oba, who apologised but to her surprise the money that she kept in her waist bag disappeared shortly after the encounter.
A taxi driver, Saka Wahab told Pilot Crime that a similar incident happened to one of his passengers recently .
According to him, the sum of N450,000 was mysteriously stolen from the passenger, who is an Igbo trader.
” I picked a man heading to Offa Garage. The passenger I picked earlier at A Division was relating with the Igbo trader as if they knew each other before. The man dropped off at Gaa Akanbi.
“When the second passenger got to his destination, he brought out his bag to pay me and to his uttermost shock the huge sum of money on him meant for purchase of goods had been stolen, ” he recounted.
On her part, a rice seller, who simply identified as Alhaja Sifau at Oja-Gboro also reportedly lost the sum of N500,000 under similar circumstance.
A trader, Iya Kareema at Oke-Fomo market was said to lost half a million naira, which she had wanted to deposit in the bank after the day’s sales.
When contacted on the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi said he was yet to get report of such cases.
