Robbers Shut Banks In Ijebu-Ode

Banks in Ijebu-Ode, a town in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria have refused to open their doors to customers for fear of being attacked by armed robbers.

Investigations by P.M.NEWS revealed that the banks refused to open their doors following incessant attacks by armed robbers in the town.

Some residents of the town disclosed that the banks have remained shut since last week when robbers raided five banks in a neighbouring town, Ago Iwoye. They added that only customers who are using the Automated Teler Machine cards (ATM) are the ones withdrawing money from their accounts.

When our correspondent visited the popular Ibadan Road in Ijebu Ode where all the banks in Ijebu Ode are located except Skye Bank which is on Abeokuta Road, a large number of people were seen hanging around the banks with no hope of gaining assess into them.

One of the people who identified himself as Oluomo said he has no money to buy fuel for his car. “I came to the bank to get some money which I urgently needed for something. On getting here, I saw many people outside but I thought it was a crowd waiting to withdraw their money. I didn’t know that the bank was not open. I was told that the banks are afraid of being attacked by robbers. They cited the attack by armed robbers on a bank in Ago Iwoye during which millions of naira  was carted away,” he told P.M.NEWS.

A businesswoman who did not want her name in print called for spiritual intervention in the state of affairs in the country, saying nobody is safe anymore. “This country is no longer safe but our leaders are yet to believe this. To them, all is well. But to over 90 percent of the people, things are not okay. I have money which I acquired with my sweat but  I cannot get the money when I need it. If you decide to keep your money at home, you cannot sleep because of the fear of robbers attacking you. Then, where is the peace the government is talking about. Our government should rise up to the occasion and save the masses. People are suffering,” she stated.

A gang of armed robbers numbering about 20 recently stormed the permanent site of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU in Ago Iwoye and raided five banks in the campus. They succeeded in carting away millions of Naira.

Commenting on the raid which left several people injured, Area Commander of Igbeba Police Station in Ijebu Ode, ASP Bolaji Odesanya appealed to the residents to always give useful information on any strange movements they observed in their areas.

“We understand the plight of the people, it concerns everyone of us. We also make use of the banks and since the closure, we are not comfortable.But the situation on ground is our collective responsibility. Our duty is to protect lives and property and we are doing our best. The people should help us by giving us useful information. These robbers are not spirits, they are human beings like us. They live around us. We must not harbour them because they are our enemies. We will not relent on our oars until the town is peaceful and all these criminals are flushed out of the town,” the police boss stated.

— Abiodun Onafuye/ Ijebu Ode