A commercial drver, Mallam Kiri Umaru, has returned the sum of N1 million he found to the owner. The popular driver, who commutes between towns and villages in Yobe, said he has been in the job for decades.
Mallam Umaru said he was travelling to Gashua from Dapchi on the fateful day when he sighted a bag by the roadside and decided to stop. He said, “I picked up the bag and when I checked it I found that there was a huge amount of money inside so I quickly closed it without informing any of my passengers.”
Upon arrival at Gashua, Umaru said he handed the huge amount of money to the transport union and said it should be handed over to the rightful owner. A resident of Geidam town, Babagana Modu, told Kanem Trust how the situation had almost degenerated into a serious tussle between those that lost the money and one of the drivers that conveyed the passengers after their mission to buy animals in Geidam Wednesday market had failed. He said fortunately, the situation was saved when another driver who arrived Geidam from Gashua broke the news that an amount of money had been found in Gashua. “Both the driver and the money owners were excited by the news and returned to Gashua to claim the money” When the money was handed over to them after verification they wanted to reward Mallam Kiri Umaru for his honesty but he told them he was already in Damaturu and would not return. “When they contacted me they pleaded with me to come to Gashua but I was already in Damaturu and I told then I couldn’t return. I refused even after they insisted. “I did it willingly. I never owned such huge amount of money I won’t have peace keeping something that doesn’t belong to me. God will decide the best for me” However, one of the union members said the owners gave N20,000 as reward to the honest driver .
Daily Trust
