Ogun deplores banks’ stance on insecurity

BANKS in Ogun State have been accused of blackmailing the state government over their decision to close their branches in Ijebuland to protest the recurring attacks on them by robbers.              .

The government also deplored the tone and language of the statement credited to Mr. Funmi Olusoga, chairman of Ijebuland Bankers’ Forum on the matter.              .

Yesterday, the national dailies were awash with reports of the resolve of the bankers not to operate in the area again because of the rampant cases of robbery, especially attacks on their branches.          .

In a reaction yesterday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, said Olusoga used “reckless and intemperate language to describe the state government,” in the statement credited to him.

“We view the statement as a calculated attempt to portray the government as insensitive and unresponsive, particularly since we have always provided periodic information to the Bankers’ Forum on the sustained efforts to provide necessary equipment for security agencies in the state.

“The threat by the Bankers’ Forum to deny customers access to banking services on account of security complaint is gradually turning to blackmail. For the avoidance of doubt, we need to put it on record that in the nine months that this administration has spent in office, we have invested almost N3.7 billion on security for our people,” he said.              .

Adeoluwa disclosed that last December, the state ordered 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to complement the two on ground. He said since only one of them was working, the government promptly repaired the other, adding that, “these were measures aimed at tackling the immediate security challenge.”                     .

The SSG further said 125 patrol vans fitted with communication gadgets for the use of the anti-crime joint military-police task force ‘Operation Mesa,’ the Quick Response Squad (QRS) and the other security agencies.

He said some of the vans had been deployed and the others would soon be allocated.

The SSG explained that the state got the Police High Command to approve the special deployment of 262 more mobile policemen from MOPOL 20 based in Lagos to complement the activities of the ‘Operation Mesa’ and other security agencies.

Adeoluwa noted that while the bankers believe that only the presence of APCs could create the right environment to operate, “it should be noted that APCs are not like cars that can be bought off the shelve. Apart from the period it takes to get them from the manufacturers after placing an order, one requires security clearances from both the country of make and the end user’s nation.

“The state government therefore considers it mischievous and reckless for Mr. Olusoga or any member of the Bankers’ Forum to claim or create the impression that we are not doing anything about the security situation…”

The government urged the people not to entertain fear as a result of the statement made by the Bankers’ Forum.