The police in
Ogun on Sunday assured banks and others financial institutions in Ijebu-Ode and
environs of safety, warning, however, that they would not tolerate any false
robbery alarms.
Police spokesman in Ogun, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, gave the assurance in a
statement made available to newsmen in Ota, Ogun.
Oyeyemi said that the police command in Ogun had noticed with dismay
unwarranted closure of banks and financial institutions in Ijebu-Ode and its
environs due to alleged robbery threat.
He said that the closure made the residents to suffer.
“The command is appalled at this unprofessional behaviour of bankers in
that axis despite continuous assurance of their safety by the police and other
security agencies.
“Their recent action can only be described as treacherous and mischievous,
as they are not the only bankers in the state and the country at large, yet
they are the ones complaining of robbery threat every now and then.
“The command has noticed that once they are bent on this mischief, they
close their minds and eyes to other security arrangements put in place by the
police in conjunction with other security agencies to protect them,” the
spokesman said.
He said that the
banks claimed that armed robbers wrote to inform them that they would attack
them.
Oyeyemi said that the banks did not make the letter available to the
police for investigation and possible apprehension of those behind it.
“It is bad that from time to time, the banks cried wolves, carelessly and
recklessly, and in none of these numerous occasions has any robbery taken
place,” he said.
He expressed worry that the bankers could expose banks in the vicinity to
security threats by making public ‘real and imaginary’ security lapses rather
than quietly discuss them with security agencies.
“The command, therefore, wishes to warn that the bankers would surely be
the first set of suspects if anything unusual in the form of bank robbery (God
forbid) happens in the area, at least for them to disclose their ceaseless
sources of information.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Edward Ajogun, has directed a full
scale investigation into this current claim of receiving a letter from armed
robbers.
“He reaffirmed that the police are doing everything within the ambit of
law to guarantee the safety of life and property of people in Ogun State, the
banks and others financial institutions inclusive.” (NAN)
