By Elijah Ugani
Financial activities in Obudu suffered a setback today Friday, February 20, 2015 as the few operational Banks in the town are under lock and key, this was observed in the early hours this morning.
When our reporter visited the banks which include Zenith Bank, First Bank and Eco Bank this morning, the only staff around the premises of the banks were the security staff.
CrossRiverWatch also gathered that the closure of the banks is unconnected with the robbery attack on First bank, Vandikya branch in neighboring Benue State yesterday 19th February, 2014 by armed bandits.
A security man with EcoBank who did not want to be named told our reporter that: “Bank no open today, arm robbers attack First Bank for Vandikya, they fit enter Obudu”.
This he said could be the most likely reason for the closure of the banks. One wonders if this act conforms to the operational standard of the banking sector and whether or not the head offices of these banks are aware and approved of this closure.
As at the time of filing this report, all efforts to reach the Branch Managers of this Banks in Obudu failed.
The situation is worrisome as most primary school teachers were yet to receive the directive of the local council in other to access their salaries from the banks.
Some of the customers who were perturbed by the ugly situation wonder how they will survive the situation especially when it happened on a weekend and even the ATMs are not functional “nawa for this kind thing o! How person go survive now, even ATM machines no de work” one of them told CrossRiverWatch.
When CrossRiverWatch contacted the Special Adviser on Security to the Council Chairman, Mr. Spokesman Agogo, he said: “There is no cause for alarm. The closure is a precautionary security measure following a robbery incident at the First Bank, Vandikya branch. We have asked the police to do proper reconnaissance of the boundary between Obudu and Benue and hopefully, the banks will reopen by Monday.”