The increasing wave of bank robberies in Ogun State and the attendant loss of lives and cash is taking a huge toll on banking in the Gateway State.<\/span><\/p>\n Banks in Ijebu, Sagamu and Abeokuta yesterday shut their gates against customers. The closure, which the operators said will be indefinite,\u00a0 triggered a biting cash crunch and panic reactions.<\/span><\/p>\n The Ogun State Banks\u2019 Managers Committee (OSBMC), issued a communique after a meeting held at the Abeokuta branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN), saying banks would not re-open for operations in the three senatorial districts until there is an \u201cassurance of safety of lives and cash\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n All 35\u00a0 members of the committee at the meeting told reporters that they had pleaded with Governor Ibikunle Amosun to provide Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), at least 10 Hilux vehicles as well as to urgently convene a security summit to address the incessant threats to banking.<\/span><\/p>\n Another meeting has been scheduled for next Tuesday at the same venue to review the situation. The managers resolved to write a letter to CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) about the security challenges they have been living with. A copy of the letter they said, will be forwarded to Amosun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They relived the recent experience of a bank, where a year\u2019s profit was lost to robbers in one raid, stressing that they would not \u201cbudge\u201d in their chosen cause, until their \u201cdemands are met\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the bankers, they had planned to assist the police in refurbishing and repairing their two malfunctioning APCs, but got bogged down by a N23 million bill needed to put them in shape.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Amosun had earlier expressed concern about the security challenge, but pledged to arrest it.<\/span><\/p>\n Amosun said: \u201cLet me assure you that we as a government are more concerned. I can tell you that we have taken delivery of one or two APCs and another 10 units are on the way. Ultimately, we plan to have about 30 units. But you know the huge investment required; that is why we are trying to see how we can partner with the people for assistance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The governor, however, said the APCs alone would not do the magic, but that getting the people positively engaged through gainful employment would also go a long way in taking the youths away from crimes.\u00a0<\/span>
Nkemdeme, in a telephone interview, said members of the public were merely reacting out of \u201cspeculations\u201d, adding that the situation was under control.<\/span><\/p>\n