Commercial banks in Ikere-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State, were shut on Tuesday, following the alleged withdrawal of policemen protecting them, The Nation reports.
According to The Nation correspondent, who visited the second largest community in the state, observed that the financial institutions in the town as well as Point of Sale (POS) outlets were under lock and key due to fear of being attacked because of the alleged absence of policemen.
The Nation learnt that there had been no single police officer in the town since they had no place to operate, following the burning of two policemen and destruction of the Area Command.
The town had suffered the most grievous attacks and destructions during the last EndSARS protests: structures and property estimated at millions of naira were either burnt or vandalised.
At the end of the attacks, the Area Command and divisional police stations in the town were attacked and vehicles as well as other vital items on the premises were either damaged or burnt.
Reacting to the alleged withdrawal of policemen, banks in the town did not open for operation yesterday, forcing many customers who wanted to transact business to go to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Some bank customers in the community, particularly those who wanted to deposit money, withdraw money and transact other businesses, expressed disappointment over the development.
They said it had affected their businesses negatively.
A bank official, who spoke in confidence with our reporter, said the development was as the result of alleged absence of policemen in the community.
