First Bank Shutdown Branches in Kogi for Insecurity

First Bank in Kogi state on Monday shutdown its branches to protest security challenges faced by the bank across the state.first-bank1

Our reporter who was at the bank’s branches at Adakolo and Ganaja junction in lokoja respectively observed that the banks entrance were under lock and key while customers who were there for various transaction were turned back by the bank’s security men at the gate.

A security officer at one of the branch who craved anonymity told our reporter that the banks was shut to customers across the state due to security challenges.

Another reporter in Okene, reported the same development, with security agents at the branch who wished named withheld noted that the recent robbery attack in Benin city has put various banks on the red-alert.

He informed that the inability of the Nigerian most-feared military agents to stop the robbery attack began creating many fears, hinted the bravity of the dreaded robbers on delibrate invitation the soldiers has sent fears into the ribs of troubled-bank operators.

According to him, the Area Manager addressed them in the morning, saying that they had to closed to customers in view of the recent security challenges witnessed by the bank across the state.

When our reporter sought to speak with the Area Manager on the closure, the security men ask him to come back and that the area manager was not around but when our reporter when back by 2pm, he was asked to come back on Wednesday.

One of the customers, Ismaila Nuhu, who speak with our reporter laments the closure, saying that he was at the bank to withdrew money but was surprised when a security told him that they are not working today(yesteday).

” We heard that one of its branch was attacked by armed robbers at weekend. Government should provide adequate security so they can attend to us. Tomorrow is public holiday, what do they want us to do now,” he said

Meanwhile, our reporter gathered that last week Saturday, armed robbers attacked one of the first bank’s branches at Ajaokuta in Ajaokuta local government but could not access the vault before police arrived the scene.

The source who only gave his name as Abdul said a shoot out ensued between the police and the robbers, adding that two of the robbers were apprehend by the police while others escaped.

The police commissioner Austin Evbakhabokun,who confirmed the robbery said four of the armed robbers have been arrested while two who sustained bullet wounds during a shoot out with police died on the way to hospital.

He said there is no need for the bank to shut down as the armed robbers terrorizing the banks in the state have been arrested, assuring that the police will provide adequate security to all citizen.

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