As we write, banking activities in the Ijebu and Remo divisions of Ogun State have been suspended as bankers embark on indefinite strike over the poor security situation in the state.
The Chairman, Ijebu Land Banker’s Forum, Olusegun Olusoga, announced this on Wednesday at a press conference in Abeokuta, adding that the move was imperative due to the spate of bank robberies in the state.
“Any robbery attack arising as a result of the culpability of any bank shall be viewed as connivance and collaboration with the robbers,” he said. “We would not defend or issue any statement to absolve any bank official who, out of carelessness, allows his bank to be robbed through the revering of skeletal services.”
He blamed the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for not responding on time in providing adequate security equipment that could hav been used in combating the menace of armed robbery, emphasizing that; why didnt he provid the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) as well as deployed the patrol vans parked in the premises of the state secretariat in Abeokuta to the banks in the state.
Olusoga warned staff to stay away from bank premises and ordered that no bank should render back door services to any customers while the strike is ongoing, until the state government had met their demands.
He also warned against loading of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) until further directive from the forum
The chairman, Sagamu Banker’s Forum, Tunde Onadeko, revealed that his members had also resolved to embark on indefinite strike in solidarity with their colleagues in the Ijebu division.