Banks closed down in ijebu ode.

According to Punch

Banks in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on Monday were said to have shut their doors against customers as their management was said to have been gripped by the fear of robbery attacks.

Our correspondent gathered that almost all the major banks who have branches in the town operated skeletal services for about one hour before hurriedly shutting their doors.

Customers who turned up to either make withdrawals from their accounts or pay in money were disappointed.

Our correspondent gathered that the management of these banks were afraid that robbers might invade their banks, because the only Armoured Personnel Carrier allocated by the state police command to Ijebu Ode has developed mechanical faults and has been taken away.

A banker who did not want his name in print told our correspondent that they were only being security conscious because the festive seasons were around the corner, and the men of the underworld might strike.

He said, “The Eid-Kabir celebration is around the corner. Likewise the Christmas celebration, and these seasons come with their challenges. Men of the underworld also want to celebrate. So they go all out to unleash mayhem on banks or other places they feel they can get money.

“Based on our experience in the past, we do not want to take chances, because the Armoured Personnel Carrier usually stationed here had developed mechanical fault and it has been taken away. It is the one in Ago Iwoye that has been alternating between the two towns.”

Our source gathered that this palpable fear also led to closure of banks in Ijebu Igbo, a neighbouring town to Ijebu Ode.

A resident, Mr. Dotun Akinola, who went to one of the new generation banks in Ijebu Ode to make withdrawals on Monday said he was disappointed to meet the bank under lock and key.

He said, “I was terribly disappointed because I was so broke. I met some other customers at the gate of the bank but we were never allowed in.

“But I was told that some of the banks opened for business around 1pm when the police brought the APC from Ago Iwoye to Ijebu Ode. But immediately the APC was moved out of the town, the banks quickly shut their doors.”

Most of the banks who had their offices on Ibadan Road did not open for business.

The police spokesman in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, said there was always an APC stationed along Ibadan Road, and that there was no cause for alarm.

He said if there was any incident in Ijebu Igbo, the APC would get there in matter of minutes.

He said in the security arrangement, the carrier was just a backup to other security arrangements.

He said, “The APC on Ibadan Road is four kilometres away to Ijebu Igbo. The commissioner of police has ordered the Area commander to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order in the area.

“With what we have on ground, there is no cause for alarm.”