Community leaders
in Omu-Aran, Kwara State have called for the re-opening of closed commercial banks in the town, 12 months after they were robbed.
The community leaders made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Omu-Aran, recently.
They expressed disappointment over the continued closure of the banks in spite of the community’s commitment to ensure adequate security for banking operations in the area.
They lamented that the closure of the banks was impacting negatively on the economy of the community, saying that the community recently donated two Hilux vehicles to security agencies to boost security.
The Tide source recalls that armed robbers had on May 14 raided three banks in the town, killed three persons, and escaped with unspecified amount of money.
Residents in the town now travel to Ilorin, the state capital, about 75 km away, and towns in neighbouring states to transact their banking businesses.
President, Omu-Aran Development Association, Chief Peter Oyinloye, told reporters that the association had done “everything humanly possible’’ to assist security agencies to ensure that the banks resumed normal operations.
“The community had held series of meetings, especially those that border on security, all in the efforts to woo the banks to re-open their doors for banking transactions.
“The community has also gone the extra mile to fortify its local security outfit and facilitated joint patrols of the nooks and crannies of the town by several security outfits, including the army.
“But, regrettably, even with the latest donation of two Hilux vehicles to assist the law enforcement agencies, the banks have refused to open after many promises to that effect,’’ Oyinloye said.
The Akeweje of Omu-Aran, Chief Bisi Adeyemi, also appealed to Bankers Association to urgently intervene to address their plight.
He said that the traditional ruler of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye, viewed the refusal of the banks to reopen as a hindrance to socio-economic development of the area.
“Our markets have been deserted because residents who travel to Ilorin and Otun in Ekiti State for banking transactions prefer buying their items along with them after such transactions,” Adeyemi said.
On his part, the local government council chairman, Alhaji Luqman Owolewa, said his administration had been making efforts to get the banks resume operations.
He promised that the council would continue to liaise with the bank authorities and the state government to ensure that they reopen in the interest of the people of the community.
Reacting to the request, Manager, EcoBank, Omu-Aran branch, Mr Banji Olasehinde, expressed the willingness of the bank to reopen.
He, however, said that the bank needed the presence of at least one other bank before it could begin operation.
“We have done everything possible, including staff mobilisation and renovation of the damaged building; but if at least one other closed bank can be persuaded to come along it would be an advantage,’’ he said.