Banks Burnt During Another Protest In Ogun State
Again, another protest ongoing in Ogun State over the scarcity on new redesigned Naira notes
Protests over naira scarcity have erupted once more in Ogun State, with footage online showing two banks set on fire in the state’s Sagamu district.
According to reports, the violence began as early as 8 a.m. on Monday as a result of an alleged halt in bank operations, with Automatic Teller Machines purportedly not distributing cash since last week.
Several neighbors were seen on Monday watching as Keystone and Union banks were set on fire, with some adolescents brandishing boards in protest.
Protesters blocked the Sagamu-Benin highway with bonfires, prohibiting human and vehicular circulation.
Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Akarigbo of Remo, has urged for calm.
“I encourage to people to stay calm and peaceful as we continue to engage the Federal Government,” the palace said in a statement.
This policy is not the responsibility of the state or local governments.
Thus, the loss of lives and homes would only worsen an already horrible situation. “I urge our people to continue to accept the old notes in conformity with the Supreme Court order.
No one who accepts the old notes will be disadvantaged.
I can assure you of that, and please keep your pledge.”
“Moreover, I am also instructing all our market workers to continue to accept the old notes.
I now guarantee that no one will suffer as a result of owning the old notes.”
On Friday last week, Newsmen reported that a demonstration occurred in Ogun State’s Mowe-Ibafo region, with numerous citizens blocking the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in protest of the sorrows and suffering caused by the persistent scarcity of the naira.
Responding to the incident, a Twitter user, @arranowant to said, “Kindly urge your friends, relatives and acquaintances to avoid any protests.
Take your rage to the polls on Saturday.
Don’t set fire to banks, gas stations, or government assets.”
“I just put a call through to the house and it was verified to me that keystone bank and union bank in ijoku has been set ablaze by irate locals,” another user, @morningstar 305, said.
Pooja, a renowned tweep, tweeted, “If you are in Sagamu, be careful since there is a demonstration against new naira notes.”
Meanwhile, in a nationwide broadcast on Thursday last week, President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) declared that the old N500 and N1,000 notes were no longer legal money in the country, while extending the validity of the old N200 note for 60 days, until April 10, 2023.
Bola Oyeyemi, the state Police Public Relations Officer, could not be reached at the time of reporting this story, as phone calls and text messages to his line were not returned.
