Robbers force banks to shut doors in Offa, Omu-Aran

Banking activities in Offa and Omun-Aran towns in Kwara were paralysed on Friday as the  banks in the towns refused to open for business.
The banks refusal to open for business was caused by widespread fears in the two towns over alleged impending attacks by armed robbers.
Scores of customers, who went to the banks for transactions, returned home disappointed as they could not make much withdrawals through the  Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
One of the customers, who preferred anonymity, said that none of the customers who intended to make across-the-counter transactions could do so because of the situation.
The customer appealed to the banks to  find a lasting solution to the problem to avoid inflicting “unnecessary hardship” on their customers.
A manager in one of the banks, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that they decided to shut their doors against customers  because of  “insufficient security”.
He said that  they had “a terrible spate of  robbery incidents in August”, saying there were indications that the bandits might strike again.
The manager said that the banks would commence operation, once they noticed security improvement in the two towns.
In his reaction, Mr Dabo Ezekiel, Police Public Relations in the Kwara Police Command, said the command was not aware of the development.
He said that the manager should have explained what he meant by “insufficient security”, saying “our men are on ground and they are capable of arresting  the situation.”
“To me, it is just a rumour. They should tell their customers the real  reason for closing down”,  the police spokesman  said. (NAN)