MZUZU (MANA) Unidentified armed robbers on Saturday night raided Total Filling Station, popularly known as Bishop Filling Station in Mzuzu and went away with MK3.2 million after tying up two guards and four fuel attendants with ropes.
The filling station belongs to Mzuzu Diocese of the Catholic Church.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency, Mzuzu Diocese Treasurer General Gabriel Mhone said the robbers, who were armed with panga knives and metal bars, raided the filling station around 12:00 midnight.
He explained that before accomplishing their mission, the robbers broke into a room at the filling station where the fuel attendants were resting and tied up them along with the guards on duty with ropes in addition to gagging their mouths, apparently to prevent them from shouting.
“It was a group of people and while some were inside breaking the cash chest, others, dressed like fuel attendants, were outside telling customers who came for refueling that there was no fuel,” said Mhone.
Besides robbing the filling station of MK3.2 million, the robbers also stole eleven thousand kwacha belonging to one of the fuel attendants.
“One customer from Kasungu came to refuel and discovered that the place was deserted. The customer then moved close to the [filling station] shop and saw the fuel attendants and guards tied. It was at this point that he alerted Mchengautuwa Police,” he said.
Police confirmed the robbery, saying no arrest has been made so far. The law enforcers are still investigating the incident, according to Northern Region Police Deputy Publicist, Paul Tembo.
This is the second time the filling station has been robbed since it opened its doors in 2009.
