Violent Protests Against Naira Notes Scarcity In Abeokuta
Angry bank customers have staged violent protests in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital against the continued hardships they are facing in withdrawing naira notes from their bank accounts.
Protesters made bonfire and blocked major roads, including Asero, Adatan, Obantoko, Gbonagun, Aladesanmi, Abiola Way, Sapon, Lafenwa, Ibara, Pansheke, Ake and Oke ilewo areas of Abeokuta.
During the attack, a teacher at the Nobel College, Oke Ilewo, sent a distress call for help, after a tear gas canister filtered into the premises, affecting students.
The tear gas canister and gunshots fired by police failed to contain the spread of the protests, which began from Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Asero, after customers waiting for hours at the bank’s ATM rejected battered N100 notes to be paid to them.
One of the protesters was shot at Sapon, while several others were injured at various parts of the city during the protests.
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Banks hurriedly cleared their banking halls of customers, and shut down to escape invasion by angry customers.
Despite the precautionary measures, the mob vandalized the automated teller machines of the Lafenwa branch of First Bank and Asero branch of the GTB.
The frontage of the GTB, Asero was also destroyed, and the mob was persuaded from setting ablaze the bank, after failed attempt to force their way into the bank.
Some of the angry customers spoke to a Rockcity FM correspondent, Shina Alabi at the GTbank on their grievances.
The rioters also pulled down campaign materials along the major locations including Pansheke, Ita Oshin, and Sapon.
The attacks came hours after Governor Dapo Abiodun pleaded with youths in the state not to staged a street protests against the naira note crisis.
