Anxiety yesterday gripped residents and bankers in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo areas of Ogun State, following speculations that armed robbers would strike in the areas.
To allay fears, security operatives said that the banks were shut down as a security precaution.
It was gathered that the rumour which spread like wild fire forced many banks which had earlier opened in the morning to close shops against their customers.
Banks in Ijebu-Ode reportedly closed their shops after founding out that the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed in the area had developed fault.
Also, some banks in Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye closed shops when the only APC stationed in the area was taken to Ijebu-Ode to take care of the situation.
It was also gathered that, when the Police later took back the APC from Ijebu-Ode to Ago-Iwoye, the banks in Ijebu-Ode had also closed shops.
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Muyiwa Adejobi, state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said, some banks in Ijebu-Igbo did not open because one of the APC was not working.
He explained that the APC was just a back up, adding that the situation does not mean there was no security in the place.
Comrade Ijaoba Odukoya, chairman of the local Vigilante Service of Ogun (VSO), Ijebu Ode Command, corroborated Adejobi and explained that the banks decided not to open because of the condition of the APC, adding that, there was no case of armed robbery within the area in the last few weeks.
“I can confirm to you that there was nothing like robbery attack or whatsoever. Truly, banks in Ijebu Ode did not open today and the main reason was that the two APC we have in the town are faulty and the banks felt that thy would rather see to the repairing of the Carriers before they would open shop.