…ACCESS, FIRST BANK BUILDINGS DESTROYED, BANK WORKERS FLEE
Residents of Ibadan, Oyo State capital and Warri, commercial hub of Delta State, took to major streets in protests in the early hours of Wednesday, to protest the scarcity of Naira notes in the states.
The visibly aggrieved residents were seen chanting war songs calling for the removal of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, over the hardship being faced by Nigerians.
Our Correspondent gathered that the protesters made bonfires and blocked Ologuneru, Sango Polytechnic Road, Eleyele, and Mokola roundabout in Ibadan.
However, armed policemen and soldiers were spotted at the affected areas on Wednesday as the protesters, mainly youths marched in solidarity chanting anti-Emefile songs and dancing in anger.
Recall that the CBN, Emefiele, on Tuesday, insisted that there was no need to extend the February 10, 2023, deadline for the validity of old N200, N500, and N1000.
In another development, violence took place on Wednesday, in Udu, near Warri, the commercial hub of Delta State, as youths went on rampage, destroying automated teller machines of banks in the area in protest of nationwide cash crunch.
The rioters took over Orhuwhorum junction, which spread to Express junction axis of the metropolis in protest of the shortage of Naira notes as well as hike in fuel pump price.
Meanwhile, the Protesters vandalised automated teller machines of Access Bank in Orhuwhorum junction as well as First Bank ATM in Udu road.
It was gathered that sections of the building of the banks were also vandalised by scores of protesters who hauled stones at the bank premises over the scarcity of the new naira notes.
Equally, they made bonfires at various junctions, particularly the ever-busy Orhuwhorum junction and Express Junctions.
According to our Correspondent, bank workers and those in the banks for their morning transactions were said to have fled the scene before the riot broke out.
It was learned that part of the building of the banks were also vandalised by mobs who hauled stones at the bank premises over the scarcity of the new Naira notes.
