Crimes

Naira scarcity: Attack on Sagamu banks politically motivated, says govt

The Ogun State Government has said the attack on banks in the Sagamu area of the state on Monday was politically motivated.

The state government said the attacks on banks and other infrastructures were carried out by some members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Star had reported that no fewer than three banks were set ablaze by protesters in the Sagamu area of Ogun State on Monday morning over the scarcity of naira notes in the state.

Union Bank, First Bank, and Keystone Bank branches in Sagamu were set ablaze by the protesters.

The incident was confirmed by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi.

However, the state government, in a statement issued on Monday, said the PDP members lead the protest.

It said: “Early this morning, a politically motivated violent protest took place in Sagamu during which innocent people, banks, and public infrastructures were attacked by some disgruntled members of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose members and some of the party’s candidates were seen leading the demonstration.

“While the protest was purportedly against the “scarcity of naira notes”, the real intention of these elements became obvious with the involvement of the known PDP members.

“It is on record that the campaign tour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which moved through Simawa to Ogijo and back to Sagamu, where two roads were commissioned yesterday, ended without any hitch.

“The APC rally was attended by tens of thousands of people at different locations, lasting from about 8.00 am in the morning and 8.00 pm in the evening without any violence, quarrel or disagreements whatsoever.

“We believe strongly that it was the success of the APC rally of yesterday that got the feeble opposition PDP frustrated and therefore made their members to embark on the mindless destruction of properties.

“The governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has been on top of the fallouts of the naira redesign issues. The governor had visited the Central Bank headquarters in Abeokuta and some other commercial banks’s branches, met with the bankers forum, met with Mr President alongside with other Progressive Governors and made a state broadcast to empathize with Ogun people with a reassurance that efforts are on to ameliorate the negative impacts of the implementation of the CBN policy on the people.

“Attacks on innocent people and destruction of private and public properties cannot solve the current problem but will rather worsen the situation. Therefore, we must not allow desperate politicians to mislead members of the public and use them as cannon to vent frustration.”

The Ogun State Government, however, urged the people of the state to exercise patience and be law-abiding.

“Our law enforcement team are already investigating this unfortunate development and any persons directly or indirect culpable will face the full wrath of the law no matter how highly placed,” the state government added.

The Star