 Lucky Obukohwo, reporting
Commercial banks in Edo State have been shut down indefinitely following the violent protest that led to the destruction of their facilities in the state
Recall that angry residents on Tuesday took to the streets to protest the inability to make withdrawal and in the process attacked and destroyed bank facilities, including Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and staff vehicles.
Four persons were said to have lost their lives during the protest.
The attacked Banks include United banks for African, Unity Bank, Polaris bank, Access bank, Zenith bank, First Bank and some MicroFinance banks.
POS agents were not spared as majority of the POS stands were destroyed within the Benin metropolis.
Our reporter who visited some of the banks along Akpakpava road, Sakpoba road and New Benin axis observed that the banks were not open to customers.
In most of the Banks visited, only security guards were seen manning the gate while few staff were seen standing in the premises.
A bank customer who was seen standing at the Access our reporter that she was at the bank to see if it could open to customers.
“With the level of destruction, I have seen now, I doubt if banks could opened this week. I don’t have money on me now, I came here to see if I could withdraw money”
True Live News could not get official response from the banks as officials decline comments.
Meanwhile, security agents comprising Police, NSCDC and Army have taken over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), office and its adjoining roads.
The Akpakpava road leading to the CBN office was barricaded while human being and vehicles were not allowed to access the road.