After a demonstration at the entrance of the state branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria descended into violence on Wednesday, three people died in Benin, Edo State.
Early in the morning, residents who still had old notes in their possession swarmed the CBN office to get the form they needed to deposit their money as the CBN instructed.
A Hilux truck containing some officials was attempting to enter the bank’s grounds as the locals were waiting to be attended to, but was stopped by them.
As a result of some of them (the residents) attacking the car, which was then driven away while the police were stationed at the entrance to the bank controlled the situation.
It was believed that two persons died in the ensuing brawl.
As a result, the enraged demonstrators attacked nearly every bank along the Akpkakpkava, demolishing their ATM locations and structures. Sterling Bank, UBA, GTB, Access, Zenith, Stanbic IBTC, and other banks are among those that are impacted.
As the outraged citizens took control of the Ring Road (the city center) and began throwing stones at everything they could see, the violence escalated into a full-fledged demonstration.
The United Bank for Africa was attacked by the demonstrators in Upper Sakponba, where they destroyed a portion of the bank as employees ran for cover.
In that location, one middle-aged man died. In order to prevent vehicles and a group of police officials from entering Upper Sakponba and accessing the MM route, the Third Junction was also blocked.
Soldiers and police officers were sent to the troubled area and prisons to stop jailbreaks in order to restore peace and order to the city.
Additionally, in another area of the city, officers of the Edo State Security network took down the barriers that irate locals had erected. Along with the security forces, vigilantes patrolled the streets.
