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government assures residents

Banks in Aba the commercial hub of Abia State on Monday resumed operations following the deployment of additional 1000 security operatives to the state.

This is as a result of months of sustained siege on businesses especially banks; Aba was totally paralysed as banks remained under lock and key for fear of armed robbers and kidnappers since Wednesday June 2.

Kingsley Emeruwa chief press secretary to Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State in a statement observed that government s effort and commitment to safeguard lives and properties of every person residing in the state had started yielding results as the security situation has been enhanced due to increased security personnel in surveillance.

The government acknowledged that it was not unmindful of the losses suffered by the banks and residents due to the activities of the men of the underworld noting also that the situation would have negative effect on the economy of the state.

The state government also last week expressed concern over the spate of criminal activities in the state especially within Aba metropolis in the past weeks and assured those living in Aba that it would not fold its arms and watch hoodlums traumatise the citizens noting that it had completed arrangements with the Federal Government to combat the ugly trend and protect lives and properties.

A correspondent who visited some of the commercial banks reported that many customers besieged the banks before the bank workers resumed for work Monday morning.

Chima Udemezue a trader at the Aba Shopping Centre said that his family suffered a lot during the closure as he had no money in the house to meet his immediate needs.

He said he had to travel to a neighbouring state with money borrowed from a friend to make small withdrawals in a branch of the bank.

My son at the University of Calabar who came home for some money is still waiting to enable me get the money before he could go back Udemezue said.

Jessie Okere a polytechnic student said that the money sent to her account by her father could not be withdrawn.

She said she was not used to begging from colleagues but was forced to do so for the first time.

An official in one of the banks said the Bankers Committee in Aba met and decided that banks should be re-open if the security situation in the city improved.

As I am talking with you we are still getting threats from these hoodlums even with the police personnel posted to banks and other areas of the city he said.