CITIZENS COMPASS– SAVED for the proactiveness of some security operatives at Joju, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Ogun State, some protesters would have launched an attack on a new generation bank in the area.
This was in protest of scarcity of Naira notes that is being witnessed across the country.
According to eye witnesses’ accounts, the protesters were venting their anger over the inability of the bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), to dispense cash.
The incident occurred at about 11am, on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
Banks like Fidelity Bank, zenith bank, UBA bank, FCMB bank GTB bank withing the same area.
An eye witness, Mr James Owande who witnessed the scene said the protest started when the bank refused to accept deposit of the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes.
It was learnt that bank customers were denied access to make withdrawals or deposits despite the fact that the ATMs were not dispensing money.
“‘Out of annoyance, they wanted to launch an attack on the bank but some security operatives in the area prevented this.
“When they could not succeed in attacking the bank, they barricaded Joju junction and made bonfires.
“”The genesis of the protest was that people were not allowed into the bank.
However, security operatives who were deployed to secure the banks were able to foil the would-be attacks on the bank.”
He said.
Road users said commercial activities were paralysed as angry residents trooped out to protest the lingering scarcity of the new naira notes of N200, N500, and N1000.
Same scenario was witnessed along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, as protesters shut down the area axis over their inability to withdraw cash from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
The protests occurred barely a week after one person was reportedly shot in Sapon area of Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State following attempts by some persons to rob a branch of the First Bank of Nigeria in the area.
This occurred when some bank customers spent hours at a branch of GTBank in Asero area of Abeokuta.
The protests spread to other parts of Abeokuta such as Sapon, Panseke, Okelewo and others, affecting commercial activities.
It was learnt that the bank became the target of some hoodlums, who were said to have hijacked the protest in an attempt to rob the First Bank branch.
Armed hoodlums were said to have besieged and tried to force their way inside after the canopy in front of the bank had earlier been set on fire and properties on the premises vandalised.
A team of policemen was said to have arrived the scene to disperse the protesters but not until one person was shot.
