Ola Ajayi
4 December 2008
Ibadan — BANKS operating in Ibadan, yesterday, locked out thousands of their customers on the strength of alleged threats by robbers to raid them (banks).
At Dugbe, Mokola, Ore Meji, Bodija, Oju-Irin, Sango, Challenge areas of the city, the story was the same.
This came just as the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) asked President Umaru Yar'Adua to give Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala tutorials on how to secure the state before armed robbers completely take over the state.
The party said: "Without prejudice to the principle of separation of powers, the president should ask Alao-Akala what he is spending his security votes that runs into millions on if the only assistance he has rendered to the police was the purchase of patrol vans bought with local government allocations."
ANPP advised the governor to accommodate some associates of the late Ibadan politician, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, who are now lying idle.
Except for customers who used their ATM cards to withdraw money, others who planned to go into the banks went back home disappointed.
A bank official who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that they had opened to their customers but they got a security report from the police warning them to be on the alert as some armed bandits were prepared to rob them.
He said the best precaution they could take was to close their gates and told their branches in other parts of the city to do same. "Except those who want to withdraw through ATM, we are not allowing any customer to enter the banking hall," he said.
Though the police pledged there was no reason for the banks to panic, it was observed that the police had positioned their men at strategic spots in the city.
Heavy police presence was noticed along Bodija-UI road.
Allaying the fears of residents of the city, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashiru Azeez, said: "We did not ask them to close down. We have told them that we have provided enough security. There is no reason for them to panic. We have mobilised enough men to the field.
"We even withdrew some people from other places to the town to beef up security. We are on top of the situation. I will call them to another meeting tomorrow. We did not tell them there was security threat anywhere," he said.
Similarly, in a statement, the Assistant Commissioner of Police "B" OPS, State Headquarters, Mr. Sholla David, said: "The Command has re-strategised her policing method in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere.
The CP is not resting on his oars and we are determined to bring the perpetrators of last Thursday to book.
"It has been discovered that consequent upon the robbery incident by a 40-armed gang last Thursday which claimed lives of four policemen and some innocent civilians, some people are living in fear," he said.
But Governor Alao-Akala responding through his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said, he had "contributed to the police more than any of his predecessors. In two years, he gave the police 36 vehicles and equipment. He has liaised closely with the presidency on the issue of joint military patrol - an idea which he first muted in January this year.
"That the president mentioned Oyo State in his budget speech yesterday (Tuesday) as one of the states to benefit from increased security votes next year is an indication of Governor Alao-Akala's efforts in this regard. The ANPP should not attempt to foist panic when government is making genuine efforts to curb crime," he said.
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