COMMERCIAL banks and their customers in some states in the South-West in the last three weeks have been gripped with palpable fear over armed robbery attacks
which have been rampant in the zone.
Staff of banks and bank customers are always in panic over fear of armed robbery attack as most of the commercial banks in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states shut their doors to customers any time news of armed robbers invation filtered through major towns in the state.
In the last three weeks, many commercial banks in Abeokuta, Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu-Ode, Akure, Ile-Ife, Ado-Ekiti, Osogbo, Iwo and other major towns have been closing their doors to their customers.
It will be recalled that scores of bank customers had fallen victims to armed robbery attacks in Akure, Ado-Ekiti, Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye, Sagamu and a host of other towns.
Commercial banks in Ile-Ife, including those on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), operated for half a day on Monday, as they shut their gates to customers at about 1.00 p.m., while they did not open for business at all on Tuesday. Some of their customers had to travel to Osogbo, the state capital, to transact financial transactions at various branches of their banks.
Also, there was panic in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Wednesday as rumours of armed robbery attacks on some commercial banks spread across the city.
Nigerian Tribune sources said that there were rumours that armed robbers had raided commercial banks at Orita Challenge, Elewura and Lister areas of Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of the state at about 12 noon.
The situation, it was gathered, caused panic as people ran helter skelter for dear lives while bank customers in Dugbe, Orita Challenge, Ring Road, Mokola and other areas hurriedly rushed out from banking halls for fear of being attacked in the banks.
Also, some commercial banks hurriedly closed to customers while commercial activities were paralysed in the affected areas as traders packed their wares and closed shops.
The panic also extended to Akobo, Ashi, Bashorun and General Gas areas of the state capital.
However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Moses Onireti, when contacted, debunked the rumour, saying that no bank was robbed by armed robbers in the state capital.
According to him, the people were just panicky and raised false alarm, as no bank was attacked in the state.
He called on the people of the state to ignore the rumour and go about their normal business, saying that the state police command was up to its responsibility.
The police boss, in a statement signed by Deputy Police Public Relations Officer (DPPRO), Inspector Makun Abodunde, assured all the banks and the people of the state that there was absolutely no cause for alarm about the “rumour being peddled that a bank robbery happened within the Ibadan metropolis.”
He said that the fact of the matter was that the police received information that armed robbers were about to strike at a particular bank in the metropolis and the police promptly swung into action to ensure that such did not happen.
He described as false, unfounded and baseless the alleged attack on banks by armed robbers.
It will be recalled that commercial banks in Ogun, Osun and Ondo states have been closed following armed robbery attacks.
Customers have to queue at the few available ATM terminals to withdraw money.
Also, there was palpable tension around Ojo and Iyana Iba areas of Lagos State on Wednesday afternoon, as armed robbers attempted to rob a branch of a new generation bank in the area.
It was also reported that the robbers, while trying to force their way into the bank premises, took their time to rob some vehicle owners at a fuel station beside the bank.
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