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| Diamond bank |
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| Sterling Bank |
Two financial institutions, Diamond and Sterling
banks, located on Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos State were set ablaze by angry
tanker drivers, after a policeman, who shot dead one of their colleagues, ran
into Sterling banks in order escape being lynched.
The policeman was said to have ran into the bank
premises after angry mob of tanker drivers attempted to attack him after he
shot their colleague.
The tanker drivers’ colleagues were alleged to have
not only set the two banks on fire, but also burnt parked vehicles.
The reason behind the shooting is yet unknown, but
stories making the rounds differ.
While some people claimed that the policeman shot
the tanker driver because he was blocking the road, another set of people
claimed that the policeman shot the driver because he allegedly refused to part
with N20.
An eye witness, who didn’t want his name to be
mentioned, said: “It was a mobile policeman that shot the tanker driver. The
policeman is attached to Diamond bank. He shot the driver in front of Diamond
bank during a heated argument. The mopol accused the driver of blocking the
road. He didn’t want the driver to park in front of the bank. Other trailer drivers, who were at the scene,
embarked on a reprisal; they chased the policeman into the premises of Sterling
bank and before we knew what was happening, the tanker drivers had set both
Diamond and Sterling banks on fire. The policeman ran into Sterling Bank in
order to escape being lynched.
“The rest of the trailer drivers mobilised to set
the two banks on fire. Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) were mobilized,
but they couldn’t handle the situation. The nearby Navy personnel were drafted
in.”
According to him, no member of staff of both banks
was injured in the melee.
Reacting to the incident, Henry Bassey (HB) Chief
Marketing Officer, Brand Management & Communications Group explained how
the incident started.
His words: “Yesterday, an armed mobile policeman fleeing from an irate
mob after shooting a tanker driver disrupted banking operations at the Sterling
Bank branch on Creek Road. He ran into the premises of the bank to escape being
lynched.
Security operatives attached to the
bank disarmed and arrested the fleeing mobile policeman but did not hand him
over to the irate mob. The mob got upset and attacked the bank with the intention
of unleashing mayhem on staff and customers. The branch’s reception area was
vandalized and set ablaze.
“The security operatives attached to
the branch prevented the mob from entering the branch while evacuating staff
and customers before the arrival of police reinforcement. The branch has been
temporarily shut down. We wish to inform all our customers that normal services
will continue at nearby branches and through all our electronic channels. Sterling
Bank is working with security agencies to resolve the issue.”
The Management of Diamond Bank,
yesterday, also reacted on the incident. The bank confirmed that there was a
fire incident as a result of mob action at its Creek Road, Apapa branch, Lagos.
In a press release made available to
correspondents, Head, Corporate Communications, Chioma Afe, said the bank was
set ablaze by an angry mob after a policeman shot dead a trailer driver outside
the bank premises.
Afe said: “We had a fire incident at
our branch office on Creek Road, Apapa which severely damaged branch
infrastructure as a result of mob action. While the situation is under control,
we are working with the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies
to investigate actions leading to the fire incident. While these investigations
are ongoing, the branch will be closed to customers for their safety and to
allow for completion of all repairs. We will continue to provide updates to our
customers via our social media platforms and print media. We urge those
customers in the Apapa area to use our broad range of alternate delivery
channels like the Diamond Mobile app, Diamond Online, Diamond ATMs and Contact
Centre to carry out their transactions
For those who need to visit a branch location, our closest branches to
the Apapa area are situated in Ebute Metta, 1, Market Street,Oyingbo, Opposite
Bhojsons Ltd Yaba, Iddo Market Mini, Iddo Ultramodern Market, Surulere, 31,
Bode Thomas Street and Amuwo Odofin, Plot Nos 21, 22 and 23 Opposite Abc
Transport Terminal are available to process their requests.”
The
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olarinde Famous-Cole,
confirming the incident at Apapa, said that only one person was killed.
According to him, several people, believed to have
participated in the burning of the banks have been arrested. He said that some
witnesses have started coming forward to identify the arsonists.
His words: “There was a fall out between a police
man and a tanker driver. No, it was not over money issue. What we gathered was
that the tanker driver parked in front of the Diamond bank. There was a
disagreement between the policeman and the tanker driver. There was anger and
shooting. The shooting resulted to injuries. The driver was taken to the
hospital and was confirmed dead.
“It is because of this incident, that tanker drivers
and hoodlums in the area wanted to use the opportunity to enrich themselves.
They caused mayhem. Our policemen, being the first respondent, got to the scene
and were able to douse the tension and at the same time arrested those that
were involved in the mayhem. We’re investigating and have arrested the police
officer. He will definitely pay for his crime. We just want to assure members of the public
that it’s better for them to call on the police and handover such elements
whether within the faults of civilians or the police, to the police instead of
resulting to self-help and jungle justice. We have arrested some people and we
are looking into the incident. We have eye witnesses coming forward to identify
those that were involved.”
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