Armed robbers struck at Aroma Junction in Awka, Anambra State, on Sunday. The robbery occurred in broad daylight. CCTV footage showed several armed men targeting multiple Point of Sale stands. They grabbed bundles of naira notes. They fled in a black commercial keke tricycle. Residents expressed outrage at the boldness. No arrests have been reported. The police have not issued a statement.
In April 2014, the then Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said Anambra was Nigeria’s safest state. He said it had recorded no bank robbery for five years. That assessment was made under Governor Peter Obi. The state’s security architecture then relied on community policing and vigilance groups. Since then, the model has changed. Governors Willie Obiano and Chukwuma Soludo have invested in security. Anambra has recorded kidnappings, cult clashes and armed robberies. The comparison is political. It is also a benchmark. Residents remember when the state felt safer.
The robbery occurred at Aroma Junction. It is a busy transit hub. People and traffic fill the area. The robbers operated in daylight. They targeted POS operators. POS stands are everywhere in Nigeria. They serve millions who lack bank access. They handle large amounts of cash. That makes them targets. The robbers took bundles of notes. They fled in a keke. The vehicle is common in Awka. It blends into traffic. Police could not intercept it.
CCTV footage circulated on social media. Residents said similar incidents occurred on previous Sundays. They said security operatives focus on traffic control. They do not patrol commercial areas. They called for more patrols. They want protection for small businesses. POS operators are vulnerable. They handle cash. They are often unarmed. A single robbery can wipe out their capital.
The robbery highlights a wider problem. POS operators are now essential financial infrastructure. Yet they lack security. In 2023, the CBN ordered banks to deploy more agents. The goal was financial inclusion. It worked. POS transactions surged. But robbers adapted. They target POS stands because they know banks have security. POS operators have nothing. In Lagos, Abuja, and Anambra, POS robberies have increased. The pattern repeats. The government has not responded with a national security framework for POS operators.
Winners: The robbers, who escaped with cash. Keke operators, who rented the vehicle, if they were complicit. No one else. Losers: The POS operators, who lost capital. Their customers, who face reduced services. Residents of Awka, who feel less safe. The police, whose presence did not prevent the crime. The Anambra State Government, whose security record is questioned. Small businesses, which are targets.
Bottom Line: Armed robbers hit POS stands in daylight. They escaped in a keke. The CCTV footage is evidence. The police have not responded. Anambra was once called Nigeria’s safest state. That memory is political. The reality is different. POS operators need protection. The government must provide it.