Banks' closure paralyses business in Auchi

Following the spate of bank robberies in Auchi in Edo State in recent months, banks in the town have been forced to close down.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that a recent foiled robbery of a branch of a bank in the town led to the closure of all the banks in the area.NAN reported that the closure has also paralysed business activities in the area.As a result of the closure, customers, who relied on their ATM for bank transactions, faced hectic time getting money as a result of long queues at the various machines.NAN reported that most of the customers berated the banks for not putting their machines in order even if they have to close their offices.According to them, they faced longer hours trying to withdraw cash due to the long queues and the fact that most of the machines were not in good working condition.A student of Auchi Polytechnic, Mr Andrew Okoh, said 'it has really been a trying period for us. Our living condition has been very poor as we do not have cash to do anything.'Even our academic activities that require cash are suffering as a result of the closure of the banks.''Another student of the institution, Blessing Lawrence said, ``it has been cure of the banks in the area.According to her, this has affected her greatly as there is no money for her to replenish her stock.``I cannot go to market now because my money is tied down outside as the banks are not functioning. Most of my customers are students, who have been buying on credit these past days.``We are pleading with the government to do something about the problem of insecurity in the area because I believe that if government had done something, robbers would not have been having a field day.''NAN reported that a securityman attached to one of the banks in the area, who pleaded anonymity, said banks in the area decided to close down due to unfavourable security reports.``We will surely open when we have the green light to do so, but until then, we will not take the risk,'' he said.NAN reported that this closure came in spite of repeated assurance given to the banks and residence of the area by the police command in the area.The Area Police Commander, Mr Gabriel Haruna, had assured the public that the police were battle ready to confront any bank robbery in the area.
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