Commercial banks as well as Point of Service (POS) agents on Thursday shutdown operations in Edo State due to attacks on their facilities.
Angry residents had taken to the streets to protest the inability to make withdrawal and in the process destroyed bank facilities, including Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and staff’s vehicles.
The attacked banks include United Bank or Africa, Unity Bank, Polaris Bank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, First Bank and some microfinance banks.
It was learnt that no fewer than four persons have lost their lives during the protest.
The banks along Akpakpava road, Sakpoba road and New Benin axis were not open to customers. While only security guards were seen manning the gates and few staff were seen in the premises.
Meanwhile, security agents comprising police, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and soldiers had taken over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office and its adjoining roads.
The Akpakpava road leading to the CBN office was barricaded while people and vehicles were not allowed to access the road.
The CBN Benin branch controller, Renner Jumbo, said the banks might not open till Monday following the attacks on their facilities.