Residents of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara now travel to Ekiti for banking transactions after a robbery attack on banks in the town three weeks ago.

Armed robbers, had on May 14, raided three banks in the town, killing three persons and escaping with unspecified amount of money.

Checks by the News Agency of Nigeria indicate that residents in Omu-Aran now travel to Ilorin, the state capital, and towns in the neighbouring Ekiti State of about 50 kilometres for banking transactions.

Emmanuel Ilesanmi, Business Manager, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Omu-Aran district, said that the situation was negatively affecting the company’s revenue generation.

“Majority of our customers now capitalise on the unfortunate development and refuse to pay their bills.

“They attribute their inability to get money from the bank as the excuse for not paying their bills,” Mr. Ilesanmi said.

Awawu Popoola, a market leader in Omu-Aran, said that traders were experiencing low sales and had incurred losses as a result of the closure of the banks.

“Majority of our members have been thrown out of business, due to losses incurred as a result of poor sales occasioned by closure of banks in the town.

“The fear of attack on banks in Omu-Aran has also driven away some potential buyers to more secured markets in other towns,” Mr. Popoola said.

Meanwhile, youth in the town, under the platform of Omu-Aran Youth Forum, have called for joint police-military patrol to curb incessant robbery attacks in the area.

Yemi Aransiola, the councilor representing Omu-Aran Ward 2, who is also the leader of the forum, said that the joint police-military patrol had assisted in checking insecurity in parts of the country.

“With the latest attacks on banks in Omu-Aran, I think the time is ripe for joint police-military patrol to end incessant robbery attacks on banks,” Mr. Aransiola said.

Bidemi Olawuyi, Secretary of Omu-Aran Development Association, said the association had taken some proactive measures to assist law enforcement agencies.

“We are not resting on our oars in assisting security agencies, including the town’s vigilance group, to end this ugly trend.

“More importantly, we are already in discussion with the banks’ management in an effort to woo them back to continue their businesses in the interest of the people of the community,” Mr. Olawuyi said.