• Protesters razed down two banks, vehicles in Delta

 

Jane Otu, South-South

 

DAILY COURIER – At least two persons are feared dead following protests that rocked Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Wednesday as agitations due to the scarcity of Naira notes spread to major cities.

 

The protests erupted as the cash crunch occasioned by the new cash policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), worsened with citizens unable to spend their old N200, N500 and N1000 notes.

 

 

Residents occupied the Ring Road, Oliha, Uselu Shell, Ekehuan Road, Akpakpava and other parts of Benin City, targeting branches of some commercial banks in the areas.

 

However, some of the protesters, who were still in possession of the old notes, stormed the CBN office to return the old notes.

 

While they were waiting to be attended to, a Hilux truck, with some officials, which was trying to make its way into the bank premises, was prevented from gaining access to the bank by the residents.

 

The situation turned violent as some of the residents attacked the vehicle while the police at the entrance of the bank calmed the situation.

 

To restore peace and order in the metropolis, policemen and members of the Edo State Security network were dispatched to dismantle the roadblocks set up by angry residents in a different part of the city.

 

As at the time of filing this report, two persons had been reported killed by gunshot wounds.

 

In Delta, operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested five suspects for setting two banks and two vehicles ablaze on Wednesday, in the Udu Local Government Area of the state.

 

DAILY COURIER reports that angry residents protesting the current cash crunch on Wednesday, set ablaze two banks and two vehicles around Express Junction and Ovwian area of Udu.

 

The spokesperson for the Command, Bright Edafe, who confirmed the incident, said five persons have been arrested in connection with the arson.

 

“Two banks and two vehicles were set ablaze by the protesters in Udu. I am not aware of any other protests in Warri and Effurun.

 

“Meanwhile, five persons have been apprehended in connection with the crime,” the State Police image maker confirmed.

 

Meanwhile, normalcy has been restored following the swift intervention of security operatives deployed to forestall a total breakdown of law and order in the area.