Following series of attacks on banks in Ogun State, banking operations in Ijebu land and Sagamu areas of Ogun State have been brought to a halt till further notice. It would be recalled that the state witnessed an upsurge of robbery attacks on commercial banks in Sagamu, Ijebu-Igbo, Ago-Iwoye, Ilaro, Ewekoro and Ota among others, where several millions of Naira were carted away. Banks in Ijebu and Shagamu axis have closed shop for the past three weeks, leaving Abeokuta, Sango- Ota as well as the Mowe/ Ibafo axis opened for business. Banks in Ijebu Igbo in the Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state have closed shops for over a year due to incessant armed robbery attacks. Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations revealed that none of the 11 banks at the permanent site of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye opened for business, neither was any of the ATMs functioning after eight of the banks were attacked by a gang of robbers four months ago. The permanent site known for bustling banking activities was a ghost of itself as all of the banks that competes for students’ patronage were under locks and keys. A security guard of one of the banks told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that he was on duty to charge some electronic gadgets after which he will leave, disclosing that there was no resumption date in sight. Visitors to the higher institution of learning as well as students lament the situation as they have to go as far as Abeokuta to get banking services. Eniola Aderibigbe, a visitor to the school said he ran out of cash and had to visit one of the ATMs in the school premises to withdraw some money when he was told that banking activities in the school have grinded to a halt. He was left stranded and frustrated. Despite assurance by government that measures were being put in place to ensure improved security, the banks have refused to open shop. Olusegun Olusoga, chairman of Bankers’ Forum in Ijebu land said the decision to shut down was unanimously taken at an emergency meeting to protest the level of insecurity in the state. Olusoga said the meeting by the bankers was to review security situation in the state and lamented the alleged failure of the state government to put necessary security measures in place. According to Olusoga, “among the security measures we are demanding are the provision of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and deployment of patrol vans and policemen to protect banking institutions.” Olusoga argued that the recent robbery attacks on banks had forced them to engage in skeletal services before the meeting.
Robbery Attacks Paralyze Banking Activities in Ogun State
