Access Bank ATM vandalized
* As mob attack banks, major roads deserted, businesses crippled, three feared dead
By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
Angry mob on Wednesday, 15 February, 2023 seized major streets in Benin-City, the Edo State Capital in a violent protest of the scarcity of the redesigned naira; and rejection of the old naira notes by the banks and traders.
The menacingly looking protesters, majorly youths, in the early hours of the day, seized most of the busy business areas of the City as they set up barricades and bonfire.
The popular Kings Square (Ring road) was centre of operation of the angry mobs, also Akpakpava Road where all the banks were most hit, Ramat Park, Five Junction by Urubi, Ugbowo Road, Ekehuan Road, Sokponba Road, Idogbo and New Benin.
The angry protesters attacked the First Bank, GTB bank, UBA, Eco Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank and others.
They also attempted invading the Central Bank on Akpakpava Road but were rebuffed by the security operatives on guard who opened fire to scare them away.
No less than three persons were feared dead in the ensuing shooting from the security operatives and stampede.
Meanwhile, the group of protesters at Sokponba Road and Idogbo vented their bottled up anger on Point of Service (P.O.S) Operators, attacking and destroying their booths.
P.O.S operators have been charging high rates for services rendered customers since the confusion began.
N500 for N5,000, N300 for N3,000 and N1,000 for N10,000. In some instance, many of them do not give out more than N5,000, claiming also to be buying the cash with which they do their business from various sources.
However, the swift reaction of the combined team of security operatives saved the situation from deteriorating further.
Suddenly on Wednesday, residents woke up to meet a frustrating day as traders rejected the old naira notes as payment for good and services.
Also, many banks did not open to customers for business as they rejected the old notes even the Central bank.
Whereas, the new naira notes were not available for use and the old notes were being made useless in the hands of the owners.
It was this frustrating situation that provoked the violent mob action which crippled movement and businesses for almost the whole day.
Now, tension is heightened with residents gripped with fear of the unknown.
Here are some reactions of the people:
“The problem right now is that we went to bank to deposit old naira notes, they said they are not accepting it and even the bus drivers are also rejecting it.
“You cannot buy anything. I just went to the Bank, look at the money (displaying the old naira notes before our correspondent), this is Nigeria money and they are rejecting it. How do they want us to survive? We can’t buy and we can’t sell; a respondent who simply identified himself as Ikponwmonsa lamented.
“Even the CBN has rejected the old money from us, why? That is why we are protesting” another said.
“I went to the market to buy things but I was told that they cannot collect the old naira notes.
For Precious Oruche, she went to the CBN along Akpakpava Road to deposit her old naira notes but she and others were driven out by security agents attached to the bank.
“It is frustrating. We did not see new money and we didn’t see old money. The little ones we have, you said deadline and now that we want to return it, the CBN said no way .
“It feels that the government is bent on frustrating Nigerians on a daily basis. Okay, I want to buy pure water, I make a transfer of N10 to the seller and if the person accepts, what about the internet issues?
“People you see protesting, they really don’t want it but they are frustrated, Nigerians are frustrated.
“The poor masses are suffering. We are calling on the Nigerian government to make a fast U-turn before things go over board.
“The CBN is no longer accepting the old naira notes. We have been here since morning.
” They gave us forms to fill and later used the security personnel attached to the bank to ask us to leave. That is why the people got angry”, Oruche said.
When the mouthpiece of the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor was contacted for comment on the number of deaths resulting from the protest, he declined comment saying it was too premature.
Oshiomhole linked to violence
Edo State Govt links Oshiomhole to violence, destruction in Benin over CBN cashless policy
* Say crisis instigated to cause postponement of election
Meanwhile, the Edo State Commissioner for Orientation and Communication, Chris Nehikhare has accused the former Governor of the State and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole of instigating the protest in Benin City over the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which led to the violence and destruction of property worth millions in Benin on Wednesday.
Nehikhare speaking to journalists in Benin City in reaction to the protests in some areas of the State, called on security agencies to invite and interrogate Oshiomhole for instigating the protests in a viral video circulated on social media.
“I call on security agencies to call Oshiomhole for questioning. He should be interrogated, arrested, and made to account for his movement in Benin City a few days ago.
“In a viral video on social media, he was heard deliberately instigating APC members to go on a rampage and intimidate people in Benin City, destroying government property, and bringing anarchy to the country because the government of his party is about to lose the forthcoming general election.
“The political party responsible for this policy is the same party that has sent their APC thugs to destroy the billboards of PDP candidates.
“PDP is not the government at the center. So, it’s clear that this is politically motivated. We are pointing fingers directly at Oshiomhole as he has given a command to his tigers to unleash mayhem and anarchy. He continues to go against the laws of the land because he wants to be part of the next government.
“The situation is bad; Edo people should be patient as CBN has assured the Edo State government that there is enough money to go round. CBN believes that they have made the necessary arrangements for naira exchange in the State.
“This is a systematic protest organized across the country by the APC; they targeted Edo, Delta, and Oyo States and these States are PDP States. It doesn’t make sense for PDP States to be attacking PDP infrastructure when the policy causing the problems is an APC policy.”
Continuing, Nehikhare said: “APC as a party sat down to cause mayhem, create anarchy across the country because they want a postponement of the election. Their candidate, Bola Tinubu spoke about postponing the election. This is the plan they are putting in place to achieve their aim because they know that they can’t win the elections.
“APC has started a new trend of attacking and intimidating an APC government. Our people should be patient and use their PVC to chase this government out of power.”
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, added, “Edo people should be calm. Save your vengeance and visit it on them on Election Day by identifying the political party that caused the pain and vote them out. Enthrone the party that can bring succor”.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the APC, Edo Peter Enoserogbe Uwadiae Igbinigie Esq, as at the time of filing this story was not successful.
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