Robbery: Nigerian Banks Opt for Armoured Vehicles

Nigerian banks, targets of incessant robbery attacks, are to acquire Amoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for the escort of cash while the APCs would patrol areas with a cluster of banks, the Police said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Mr. Olusola Amore, the Force Public Relations Officer, stated that the measure was part of agreements reached at a meeting between the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and bank executives in Abuja.

The Police said the meeting which was convened to proffer solution to security challenges of banks, also urged the IGP to issue a standard document that would guide the way of the escort.

The statement said that the meeting further agreed that the Police and the banks should build synergy through regular meetings to review their security challenges.

It stressed the need for banks to have functional CCTVs and their servers and monitors that would be protected and manned by security experts.

The meeting urged Police commands in the states and FCT should create special units for the protection of the banks.

It said in order to sustain the forum, the IGP would meet with bank managing directors and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for interactive sessions at the Bankers’ Forum and hosted by the CBN.

Banks in some parts of Nigeria have been the targets of armed banditry in recent months. In Ogun state, banks in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu Waterside have decided not to open for business until the security situation improved.