Banks, schools shut as protest turns to riots in Ogun over scarcity of Naira notes
By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta
Banks and schools in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, were hurriedly closed on Tuesday as residents in different areas of the state trooped out to protest the scarcity of the new naira notes.
Bankers were seen rushing home from their respective banks in Asero, Obantoko, Sapon and Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta to avoid being caught up with the anger of the protesters.
It was gathered that some agitated residents set some areas in Sapon, Adatan, Asero ablaze, while protesting the scarcity of the new naira notes.
Also, some protesters were seen at the Wema Bank and First Bank in Lafenwa, Abeokuta destroying the Automobile Teller Machines (ATMs) within the premises of the banks.
A private school in the metropolis, Noble College, alleged that some police officers threw tear-gas canisters into their premises during the protest.
The protest around the school axis started from the GTB in Asero, down to Car Wash, Adatan and Sapon areas of the city, where residents were seen unleashing their anger, as they were unable to get their money from the banks.
Although the police stormed the locations and dispersed the protesters but as soon as they left from the scene, they regrouped in a greater intensity making bonfires with disused tyres.
This disrupted traffic movement as motorists and pedestrians ran off the road into safe directions to avoid the protesters.
The protests has now paralysed business activities in the state capital as the whole city has been turned to a ghost town with schools sending their students home.
When contacted, spokesman of the police in the state, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the protest but said officers were on top of the situation by ensuring that it did not lead to the destruction of property and loss of lives.
