Nigeria Content Online

Commercial banks operating in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital,
yesterday closed shops against customers, following rumours of an armed robbery
plot to attack targeted financial institutions in the town.

Some suspected armed robbers have allegedly concluded
arrangement to launch attack on a number of banks in the town, a development
which forced many of the banks to hurriedly halt operations.

Many customers, who were not aware of the speculations, were
locked out by the bank officials. The banks also contacted the police to
request for increased security.

When NEXT visited some of the banks, customers were sighted
waiting in droves, while the banks staffers refused to open their doors,
arguing that it would be risky to continue operations.

Some of the bank officials were seen peeping through the
windows. At Oke-Ilewo area, where a larger percentage of banks were located,
even the presence of a police armoured vehicle was not enough to reassure the
bank staff.

“Do you think we are safe, even with the armoured vehicle in
our vicinity, my brother we are all aware that the equipment of these bad boys
are more sophisicated than the police, even the armoured tank we are talking
about is like ogbanje (unreliable),” said a staff who preferred not to be
named.

But the Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer,
Muyiwa Adejobi, down played the issue, adding that the Command had however
deployed more officers to various locations within the town and environs.