We Are Targets Now": POS Operators Cry Out After Kaduna Robbery That Killed 3.

Point of Sale, POS, operators across Nigeria are crying out for protection following the killing of three people during a robbery at a POS shop in Galadimawa, Kaduna State on Tuesday.

The attack, which happened at about 4:30pm on August 4, has sent fear through the POS business community. Eyewitnesses said bandits on two motorcycles stormed the shop, shot five people and made away with cash.

Three people died in the attack: Alhaji Hassan Abdullahi, Yakubu Muazu and Magaji Sarauta. Two others are currently in hospital.

In reaction, many POS operators in Kaduna and other northern states say they no longer feel safe. “We are targets now. Anywhere they hear POS, they come to rob and kill,” said a POS agent in Zaria who did not want her name mentioned.

POS business has grown rapidly in Nigeria in the last five years because many people in rural areas don’t have easy access to banks. But the rise of the business has also attracted criminals who now see POS shops as easy targets for cash.

Operators are calling on the government, security agencies and even POS companies to provide better security. Some of their demands include police patrols in markets, panic buttons in POS shops, and insurance for operators.

A community leader in Galadimawa said many displaced people from nearby villages have moved into the town, making it crowded and easy for bandits to operate. He appealed to the Kaduna State Government to deploy more soldiers to the area.

Security experts also warn that without proper protection, many POS operators may be forced to shut down, and that will affect millions of Nigerians who depend on them for cash withdrawals and transfers.

The Kaduna incident is one of several attacks on POS shops reported this year. Until urgent steps are taken, operators say they will continue to work in fear.

The attack from bandits wasn't a good one for the POS operators at all.