NEWS

                     

Tension in Bayelsa: Banks, Businesses Close Shop, Non-indigenes Flee for their lives...

                                                                                                                                            

Abuja banks closed for security reasons
Segun James in Yenagoa with agency report


There was a grave yard silence in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, in Tuesday immediately it became obvious that President Goodluck Jonathan might have lost the presidential election to his opponent, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

This came as most commercial banks in the Federal Capital Territory (FEC) equally shut down their operations at about 2p.m., following alleged security challenges occasioned by the general election.

No sooner was this known than rumours started circulating that militants might attack non-indigenes, a situation which soon triggered an exodus as people started moving out of the state.

Even commercial banks immediately closed their doors to business at about midday as the final results of the election were been announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, while other business premises also closed shop.

THISDAY reliably gathered that the closure of commercial banks was a safety move to protect the financial institutions against the outbreak of violence following the unfavourable presidential election results.

At most of the banks, customers were prevented from entering the premises to use their ATM cards, even as another source at one of the commercial banks in a phone conversation said it was a precautionary measure and “we have since closed. But we will open for business in the morning.”

THISDAY checks also revealed that majority of those leaving the state are northerners and some Yoruba people.

It would be recalled that some ex-militants had threatened that they would declare war on the nation if President Goodluck Jonathan is not allowed a second tenure at Aso Rock Villa.

All over Yenagoa yesterday, anxious looking Bayelsans were glued to television sets at home and public places watching with keen interest as the developments unfolded in Abuja.

When contacted on the development, Bayelsa State police command spokesman, Asinim Butswat, in a phone interview, admitted that before now, a lot of Nigerians, especially from the North had fled the state in fear of an attack. But “we do not encourage anybody to leave.”

But he promised that the police are on high alert to deal with any outbreak of violence following the outcome of the elections.

Meanwhile, some of the banks visited by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) included Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust (GTBank), Ecobank, Unity Bank, Fidelity Bank, Diamond Bank and First Bank of Nigeria.

At the GTBank, Area 3, most customers who came to make transactions at about 1.35p.m. were not allowed into the bank. According to an official of the bank, who preferred anonymity, the bank’s management directed its closure by 1p.m.

He attributed the closure to fear of the unknown and the outcome of the ongoing collation of presidential election.

A customer at the bank, Mr. Joseph Haruna, said he received a mail from GTBank, informing him that the bank would close at 2p.m., only to get to the bank at 1.37p.m. and was told it closed at 1p.m.

Another customer at Fidelity Bank in Area 8, Abuja, Mrs. Florence Joshua, said she did not get any advance notice from the bank concerning closure.

Joshua said: “I am very angry and disappointed with my bank, Fidelity, because they did not inform me about their closure and this transaction I want to make is very important that I do it today. Also at the First Bank in Central Area, some customers were seen performing various transactions at the bank. Mr. Gabriel Uche, a customer, said he learnt that the First Bank would be closed at 2p.m., prompting him to  rush to the bank to send some money to his family for the Easter celebration.

However, at the Unity Bank and Diamond Bank, officials of the banks, who preferred anonymity, said the banks had not given any notice of closure.
The official at the Diamond Bank said the bank might decide to shut down before 4p.m. because of fear of the unknown.

It was observed that the Automated Teller Machines in the various banks were dispensing cash with only few customers.