Armed robbers hammer security guard

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
TWO armed robbers pounced on a Redan Fuel Station in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb and got away with $150 and a cellphone after attacking a security guard with a hammer.

Police sources said the Monday night robbery followed a similar attack at a fuel station in Nketa suburb a few days earlier.

A Chronicle news crew yesterday visited the Redan Fuel Station and spoke to the security guard, Mr Brighton Ngwenya, who was attacked by the two robbers.

Mr Ngwenya said his assailants arrived at the fuel station at about 9.40PM under the pretext of buying fuel using a R200 note.

“They brought a five litre container and requested that we sell them fuel.

“As we were in the process of attending to them, one of them said he didn’t want to be changed using bond coins and US dollars. We had an argument with them until the other one who was wearing a blue worksuit started cooling down, saying it didn’t matter whether we gave them coins or US dollars,” said Mr Ngwenya.

He said when they thought everything had been resolved, he was struck on the head with a hammer.

“One of the guys pulled a hammer and struck me on the head. I managed to escape from his second attack. As he attacked me, his accomplice approached a fuel attendant and robbed him of the money he had and a Nokia cellphone,” he said.

Mr Ngwenya said the robbers escaped on foot, heading towards Mpopoma suburb.

“We called the police who attended the scene while I was taken to Mabutweni police station. That’s where an ambulance was called to take me to Mpilo Central Hospital. I got three stitches following the injuries I sustained in the attack,” he said.

Mr Ngwenya said he was discharged from the hospital the same night.

A police source said the Mpopoma fuel station raid is similar to the one that occurred at another fuel station in Nketa suburb a few days ago when an unspecified sum of money was also stolen.

“Two guys also robbed a fuel filling station in Nketa using the same modus operandi, pretending to be buying petrol before attacking fuel attendants and robbing them,” said the source.

Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the two incidents.

He appealed to members of the public with information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects to come forward. — @nqotshili.

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