Suspected thieves allegedly broke into the Katsina State government house and carted away N31 million on July 31.
A top government source who confirmed this development to Premiumtimes, said unknown persons broke into the office of the Financial Controller of the Government House and took the money kept in a sack. The source added that the theft occurred at night when the Financial Controller, Salisu Batsari, was at the office.
“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” he said
A media aide to the governor, Al Amin Isa, confirmed the incident but refused to give details of the money taken.
“The matter had been reported to the police and an investigation is being conducted.”he said
Mr. Isa added that the state government and the police are investigating the theft and the culprits would be punished accordingly. He said when the first theft occurred, the government took measures to avert a reoccurrence but “you know how cunning these people could be.”
The government source who spoke on condition of anonymity said some officials were arrested in connection with the development but were subsequently released.
“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 the fateful day were invited by the police for questioning” he said
This will be the second time such theft will happen at the government house. In 2020, N16m was reported stolen from the office of the Secretary of Government of the State (SGS). Two government officials at the SGS office and a security guard were arrested in connection with the theft.