New naira crisis: Three people killed, banks burnt

On Wednesday, customers protesting the cash crisis was caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s currency redesign policy set fire to banks and destroyed Automated Teller Machines in Edo and Delta states.

The disturbance, which paralyzed social and economic activities in both states, also took three lives and wounded many more.

Protests also erupted in Oyo, Ondo, Benue, and Kwara states, as locals expressed their rage over cash shortages, which had made life intolerable for many Nigerians.

Around 8 a.m., bank customers besieged the state branch of the CBN at 9, Akpapakva Road in Benin, the Edo State capital, to deposit their old naira notes.

According to the findings, the folks remained calm while they waited at the gate for officials to attend to them.

However, at around 10 a.m., a Hilux vehicle carrying several officials attempted to enter the premises, but the people stopped it, believing it was there to deliver fresh naira notes.

The police officers protecting the office begged the people to give the car entry, but they refused and sought to enter the premises.

The angry bank customers threw rocks and sticks at the car, and in an attempt to disperse the crowd, police accidentally shot a male customer dead, inflaming the protesters even more.

Our correspondent also noticed two bodies around 11.45 a.m., one in Upper Sakponba and the other in Uselu, although the circumstances of their deaths remained unknown.

However, the protesters launched an all-out blitz, attacking nearly all of the banks along the Akpkakpkava Road.

They also stormed Sterling Bank, UBA, GTB, Access, Zenith, Stanbic IBTC, and other financial firms, destroying ATMs and buildings with stones.

Later, the rioters took over the Ring Road and began flinging stones at anything in sight.

Bank attacked

They attacked the UBA in Upper Sakponba and damaged a portion of the bank while the workers escaped.
The Third Junction was also closed, preventing cars and a police squad from reaching the Upper Sakponba region.

Soldiers and police officers were swiftly rushed to crisis zones and the custodial center to prevent a jailbreak and restore peace and order in the city.

Members of the Edo State Security Network and vigilantes also paraded along the street, dismantling protestors’ roadblocks in various areas of the city.
Youths protesting the rejection of old naira notes in Warri, Delta State, set fire to several vehicles parked in front of First Bank Plc, Access Bank, and Union Bank branches in the Orovwohworun section of the Udu.

Bank customers began arriving in the area as early as 9 a.m., which quickly grew busy.

They were agitated after waiting for a long time without being attended to by bank staff.

They erupted and set fire to vehicles parked in front of the banks.

Protesters set fire to four vehicles in and near Udu’s Udu Express Junction and Ovwian neighborhood.

“We are hungry and we are in a cash crisis,” one of the demonstrators, who did not reveal his identity, said. There are no new naira notes, and the old ones are being rejected. People are unable to eat or do business, we are starving, and people are dying, and they continue to blame politics.”

In addition, a petrol station in the neighborhood was set on fire for refusing to accept the old bills.

There was tension after numerous gunfire fired by soldiers and policemen deployed to guard banks in Udu, Effurun, and Warri.

Bright Edafe, the Delta State Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, could not be reached for comment on the incident at the time of reporting this story.