By Tosin Olatokunbo
The management of First bank Nigeria Limited is contemplating closing all its branches in the South East part of the country due to the prevailing insecurity in the zone. There are 65 branches of the bank in the region.
If the Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan-led bank goes ahead with this, it will create panic among the numerous customers of the first generation bank in region, aside the numerous staff of the bank that will be temporarily sent home, according to those following recent development.
The bank is mostly used by civil servants and any decision to close the branches will upset the livelihood and businesses of many families, according to close watchers of the bank who spoke with the magazine on Wednesday.
The last few weeks have witnessed increased in attacks on public assets as well as wanton killings of civilians, including former Presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak who was gruesomely killed on his way to the airport on Sunday.
Even though President Muhammadu Buhari said on Tuesday, that his government will descend heavily on arsonists and other troublemakers, those that have been watching events in the embattled zone, insist that commercial institutions could be the next target of hoodlums who will be desperate to seek funds for their nefarious activities.
The indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB had, last month claimed that the DSS was is planning to sponsor criminals to rob banks in the South-East region, and blame it on the secessionist group.
According to a statement by Emma Powerful, IPOB media and publicity secretary, the private police would try to pin the robbery on the separatist group.
The statement read in part “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by our great and indomitable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to put banks in Biafra land on notice of a wicked plot by the Nigerian security agencies to harm them.
“Our intelligence unit has uncovered fabricated propaganda by the Department of State Services DSS, that Eastern Security Network, ESN is planning to attack banks in Biafraland to acquire money to purchase arms. DSS is propelling this wicked propaganda all in a bid to blackmail ESN and IPOB, and dent our global reputation.
“We, therefore, wish to debunk this falsehood and blatant lie from the pit of hell. IPOB and ESN are not criminals and we have no plans or agenda to touch any institution particularly banks. We are not looking for money to buy arms because we produce our arms locally and cannot attack or kidnap anybody for ransom.
“We don’t inflict pains on the people we are fighting for their freedom. DSS must stop this rubbish and engage their time on something more meaningful. This poor script cannot fly,” the statement partly said.
The DSS however denied the report, insisting that it is focused in its quest to maintain law and order and protect lives and property.
The allegation followed the hoisting of Biafra flag on the premises of a commercial bank in Oye Agu-Abagana, Njikoka Local Government area of Anambra State.
Sources told the magazine that banks could be the next target of some criminal elements who may be hiding under IPOB separatist agenda.
“Indeed, the bank is not prepared to face looting and arson at this time, just coming out of recent boardroom crisis that almost tainted its over 100 years reputation as Nigeria’s foremost bank.
The Kazeem Adeduntan-led management was last month sacked from office by the Board, but was later restored by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN which said its tenure had yet to expire. Adeduntan will exit the bank in December.
Calls made by the magazine to the Mrs Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, one of the bank’s top corporate affairs staff were not answered. She had yet to respond to text messages sent to her telephone lines.
