The bank, which began skeletal services in Jan
2017, three years after a similar attack on banks
in the community, had since the last robbery,
closed shop.
The situation became compounded as the
community was preparing for the funeral outing
and thanksgiving service for its late traditional
ruler, Oba Charles Ibitoye, scheduled for Saturday
April 14.
NAN reports that some armed bandits had on
May 2013, attacked three commercial banks in
Omu-Aran, killing three persons and carted away
undisclosed amount of money in the process.
One of the banks had to reopen in January 2017
after persistent pressure and appeal from the
people of the community.
The community had also donated two Hilux
vehicles to the police to aid crime combat in the
community and woo other banks back to
business.
Some bank customers had no choice but to
travel about 75 kilometers to Ilorin to carry out
bank transactions while the closure lasted.
NAN investigation also revealed that one of the
closed banks in the community, had few weeks
ago, embarked on a massive renovation of its
building.
The bank, according to a source, who preferred
anonymity, was preparing to begin banking
businesses by Monday this week.
This development had generated excitement
among the people, especially traders,
transporters and marketers.
The situation, however, remained tense in the
community, as the only bank in operation, had
shut its door to customers while the second had
stayed away purportedly due to the Offa bank
attack.
The situation remained the same in spite of the
recent massive deployment of detachment of a
police mobile unit in the community.
NAN reports that the development had forced
bank customers to engage the services of the
local money transfer operators in the community.
All efforts to speak with the bank officials proved
abortive as no one was found around the
premises of the bank.
Mr Abbey Adelodun, a businessman, described
the development as pathetic and unhealthy for
business.
“Where do we go from here, we are in the
process of calling on the only bank in operation
to extend its services.
“But the refusal to open for business since the
Offa attack, has dealt a big blow to our business
activities,” he said.
Mr Francis Obayomi, a civil servant, said he was
forced to engage the services of Point of Service
(POS) operators before he could withdraw money
from his account.
“I had no option than to use the service of the
local money transfer operators to withdraw from
my salary account,” he said.
Mr Joseph Abegunde, the Area Commander,
Police Community Relations Committee, (PCRC)
in Kwara South Federal Constituency, lauded the
deployment of Police Mobile Unit to the area.
He pledged the committee’s readiness to assist
other security stakeholders in the area of crime
prevention and combat.
Abegunde expressed optimism that with the
presence of the police mobile unit, the banks
would have a rethink and open for business.
Mr Bisi Adeyemi, the President, Omu-Aran
Development Association (ODA), also expressed
the association’s readiness to partner with
security agents and other stakeholders in
ensuring a safe banking environment.
Adeyemi, who lamented the closure of the only
bank in the community, urged the people to
remain calm and exercise patient.
“We will not leave any stone unturned to see that
the banks re-open for business.
He also called on the Federal and State
Governments to consider the community in the
deployment of some Armoured Personnel Carriers
(APC) to assist in the protection of lives and
property in the area. (NAN)
ADEKUNLE
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