The soldiers were escorting a vehicle conveying local government workers’ salary in Borno
Armed robbers shot dead two soldiers who were escorting workers’ salary on Wednesday in Borno.
The robbers were said to have attacked the vehicle conveying the salary of Guzamala LG council workers, and in the process shot dead the soldiers.
Eyewitnesses told journalists that the robbery took place on Magumeri-Gubio road in the afternoon.
“The whole thing happened like a flash. A group of about 10 gunmen carrying sophisticated weapons attacked the vehicle,” Mallam Bulama Fugo, a witness said.
“The vehicle was ambushed by the robbers who must have received information that the cashier had cashed the money in Maiduguri and was on his way to Guzamala.”
He added that the council’s cashier was also shot by the robbers who took away the workers’ June salary during the operation.
Col. Victor Ebhaleme, the Field Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state confirmed the incident but said the soldiers were not members of the JTF.
“The soldiers were serving in a battalion in Monguno. They volunteered to serve as escorts to the council before the incident happened,” Ebhaleme said.
