UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB writes on customers’ concerns over the continued closure of commercial banks in Offa, Kwara state, and the emerging security threats following the April 5 armed robbery attacks on the town
Paralyses of economic activities
The continued closure of commercial banks in Offa, Kwara state after the recent armed robbery attack on the town, is taking its toll on the economic activities of the second busiest commercial town after, Ilorin the state capital.
Dare devil armed robbers had on April 5, 2018 attacked the town killing nine policemen on duty and scores of civilians living there crippling banking operations in the commercial town for close to two months now.
The affected banks were First bank, ECO bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, Union Bank and Stockup Microfinance Banks.
High expectations
Although, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye 11, had assured residents that baking operation would resume in the town within the next two months, commercial banks in the town are yet to open their doors to customers, forcing scores of customers to travel as far as Ilorin and Osogbo, Osun state to carry out banking transactions.
The traditional ruler said that he had received assurances from the management of the commercial banks operating in the community that they would resume operation within the next two months.
This is contrary to the previous experience when banks in Offa and neighbouring Omu-Aran did not open until after a year following similar armed robbery attacks on the communities.
Security measures
However, a recent visit to Offa town by this reporter revealed that even though there have been increased security check points along the Ilorin –Ajase-Ipo road cutting through Ijagbo in Oyun local government area of the state to Owode Market area of Offa, banking operation is yet to commence fully.
A high presence of security personnel, mostly anti-riot policemen were seen at different checkpoints along the roads. At different checkpoints vehicles are thoroughly searched by the security men.
Also, the Olofa had at different occasions disclosed that the town was embarking on the construction of a N400 million police barracks for the accommodation of officers and men.
He said since 2010, Offa had suffered four armed robbery attacks during which commercials banks were raided.
Palliatives
Although some microfinance banks have commenced skeletal operations in Offa barely two weeks after armed robbery attack in the town, findings by Blueprint revealed that banking operation in the ever busy commercial town is still at its lowest ebb.
However, Stockup microfinance banks, Union banks, First Bank ,Guarantee Trust bank and ECO banks that were attacked by the armed robbers on April 5th ,still remain closed.
Despite the commencement of services by Microfinance banks, bank customers are still lamenting the closure of the affected commercial banks.
They lamented that the operating commercial banks could not satisfy the financial transactions required for the volume of trade and commercial activities going on in the commercial town.
With the continued closure of the banks, many bank customers were left with the option of engaging the services of the local money transfer operators known as Paga in the community for financial transaction.
Appeal
Worried by the hardship his constituents are going through as a result of this development, a member representing Oke-Ogun Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Kamal Oyekunle Fagbemi, pleaded with the management of the affected banks to reopen for business, saying that doing so would lessen the difficulties depositors were experiencing in the wake of the robbery incident.
In his motion on the floor of the House yesterday, Fagbemi decried the unpleasant situation of businesses in Offa town as a result of the attack, saying that it left much to be desired.
The lawmaker, who noted that customers had resorted to travelling to neighbouring Osun State and Ilorin, Kwara state capital, for financial transactions, urged the affected banks to consider the hardship people had been subjected to.
He applauded the swift response of the Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki, and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, on what he called the “alarming security situation.”
Fagbemi commended the state government for the step taken in the construction of a mobile police barrack in Offa town as part of efforts to forestall a re-occurrence of the ugly incident.
He said: “I appeal to commercial banks in Offa to consider the difficulties and hardship our people are going through to perform one transaction or another because of the closure of the banks.
“Some of them who want to either deposit or withdraw have to travel to Osun State and Ilorin on account of the closure. They should kindly reopen for business since there is assurance that security situation has improved.”
New security threats
Unless something urgent is done, some residents of Offa have expressed apprehension that the continued closure of commercial banks in town could lead to another security challenge.
Their concern is that the high number of people locking paga service centre providers to carry out financial transaction could attract criminal minded persons to perpetrate other criminal act.
They noted that the continued closure of commercial banks had encouraged a rapid growth in the number of people locking around paga service providers centres.
Some residents who spoke with our correspondent but who do not want their names in print, said they have to travel from Offa to Ilorin on journey of about one hour to carry out financial transactions.
They expressed concerns that robbery activities may also increase along the Ilorin Ajase-Ipo road because of the movement of large amount of cash because commercial banks have not resume operations.
Although, some of the affected commercial banks had installed their CCTV and carried out renovations in preparation for the commencement of their operation, they are yet to commence operation despite security measure being put in place by the community.
Ilorin robbery scare
What would have been cheering news for resident of Offa, was thwarted by an unpleasant situation of a robbery scare in Ilorin last Friday.
It was gathered that commercial banks had planned to resume operations in Offa last week ,but the planed resumption suffer another setback following a rumour last week Friday of robbery attack on a commercial banks in Ilorin, the kwara state capital.
There was pandemonium Friday by 11:30am around Post office, Unity and Taiwo, the commercial nerves of Ilorin the Kwara state capital as a result of the robbery scare, forcing residents to scamper for safety, while shops, banks and offices were hurriedly shut down for businesses.
Commercial banks and some business out fits in Ilorin hurriedly closed for business of the day living unsuspecting customers stranded. Automated Teller Machines (ATM) of most of the banks which could have been an alternative also did not function for major part of the day.
Although, the police dismissed the rumour as ‘‘false alert’’ not after the kwara state police command and other security agents had quickly mobilised their special anti-robbery operatives and laid siege to the entrance of some commercial banks along unity road ,Ilorin.
Swift reaction
And in a swift reaction, the state police Command, through a statement issued by the Public relations officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, denied the incident.
It reads in parts “The state police command is shocked to receive an avalanche of calls from panic stricken individuals, arising from a false alarm to the effect that robbers are operating in some banks along Unity and Taiwo Areas.”
“The alarm is false, fake and a ploy to cause unnecessary panic in the minds of the people. The command wishes to assure members of the public of their safety, and its preparedness to provide needed security cover for all the banks in particular and people of Kwara in general. Members of the public are advised to be vigilant and make information of untoward movements to the police please”.
The robbery scare came few days after some armed robbers stormed a new filling station in Tanke along University of Ilorin Road and successfully operated.
A three man gang of armed robbers had last week Wednesday night around 8:30pm successfully robbed a newly established petrol station at Tanks area of Ilorin, with gun shootings renting the air while they carry out their operations.
One of the staff of the petrol station confirmed the robbery in an interview with journalists said, “they robbed us at gun point and collected all our sales for the day” he said.
It was not surprising therefore when the rumour of planned to attack commercial banks spread like wild fire.
With the memories of last month’s bloody robbery incidents in Offa still lingering in the minds of the residents of the ancient town, the Ilorin development might make banks officials to develop cold feet.
