Okene robbery: Banks now close by 1p.m

Following the Tuesday robbery incident at the Okene branches of of Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa and Intercontinental Bank, commercial banks in the area have adjusted their time of operation from 9:30 a.m to 1.00 p.m.

A notice pasted at the entrance and inside the banking hall of GTBank attributed the adjustment to the Tuesday robbery incident and said that the new operating hours would be in place until further directive from security agencies.

Our correspondent observed that tight security measures had been introduced at UBA, Intercontinental and other banks in the city as customers were seen being subjected to a thorough screening before being allowed in.

Meanwhile, the Police in Lokoja on Wednesday said that they are on the trail of members of a robbery gang that robbed the branches of G.T. Bank, UBA and Intercontinental Bank in Okene on Tuesday.

The Kogi Police command spokesman, Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, who confirmed the incidence to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that detectives had been detailed to fish out the suspects, assuring that the fleeing robbers would soon be arrested.

Okasanmi disclosed that the police had yet to make any arrest but working seriously on clues that might lead to the early arrest of the suspects, as the suspects were unable to cart away money from any of the the banks.

He assured the residents that adequate security arrangements had been made for their safety before, during and after the yuletide period, as there was no reason for anybody to live in fear.

Okasanmi said that armed policemen had been deployed to all the sensitive points in Lokoja and other major towns in the state while security in bank premises had also been beefed up. (NAN)