A Bulawayo businessman narrowly escaped with his life after being ambushed by a machete-wielding gang of robbers who tied him up and beat him demanding money at his home.
Moosa Hassen, 45, the proprietor of Esats shops, was asleep around 2.30am last Thursday when five masked raiders broke down his front door and burst into his Northend home.
According to a source, Hassen was woken by noises in his yard and spotted the frightening sight of the gang armed with machetes and an axe.
“Within minutes the robbers started breaking down the main door with machetes. He screamed for help but the robbers ordered him to open the door,” the source said.
The source added: “They grabbed his neck, threatening to slice him if he screamed. They tied his hands with an electric cable before punching and kicking him demanding money.”
Hassen told the thugs he had no cash at home but could give them $5,000 he kept elsewhere in town.
The source said the gang then dragged Hassen outside into the yard – when a miracle happened and the gods smiled down on him.
“While they were dragging him to his car, police officers arrived at his house on a regular patrol. When they saw the robbers dragging him, the thugs scaled over the pre-cast wall and fled, dropping his cellphone.”
Police attended to Hassen and took him to Khumalo Police Station to report the attack.
Efforts to get comment from police were fruitless – but one thing is clear, this businessman owes his life to some very timely coppers!
