B-Metro Reporter
FIVE armed robbers who stormed a Bulawayo City Council-owned primary school in Entumbane, stripped a security guard naked and allegedly terrorised him before ransacking the premises walked away with a paltry US$17- leaving them with just US$3.40 each if they shared the loot equally.
The gang, which allegedly struck Mthombowesizwe Primary School in Entumbane suburb at around 4am on Thursday, reportedly disabled the alarm system, switched off outside lights and used grinders to force their way into the administration block in search of cash.
But after all the trouble, the masked men, who were dressed in black, allegedly found only US$17 in the school safe.
Their supposed payday would barely buy a few basic necessities, with each robber’s hypothetical share amounting to just US$3.40.
The gang’s alleged early-morning raid triggered a police response, with two gunshots heard at around 4.15am as officers attended the scene.
A source said the robbers cornered the school’s security guard, stripped him naked and forced him
to lie down at the assembly point, with some gang members allegedly keeping watch over him while others searched the administration block.
“The safe had US$17 only, it is good schools are heeding police advice not of keep huge sums of money at school premises and ordering parents to pay at banks. They stripped naked the only guard who was at the school. After they left he sought help from the school caretaker and they called the police,” said the source.
Various police units attended the scene, while an ambulance also responded. The guard was taken to hospital for medical examination and was reportedly helping police with their inquiries.
Despite the quick response, no arrests had been made by the time of reporting.
The suspects are believed to have escaped by jumping over the school’s perimeter wall.
The robbery comes amid reports of a spate of robberies targeting shops in Entumbane, raising concern among residents. The sound of gunfire reportedly sparked discussions on residents’
WhatsApp groups as people reacted to the incident.
Police have repeatedly warned schools and businesses against keeping large amounts of cash on their premises, urging them to use safer banking arrangements to reduce the risk of robbery.
For the five suspects, if the reported figure is correct, the alleged raid appears to have been a high-risk mission for a painfully small reward.
