Naira crisis: 3 banks destroyed, property looted as hoodlums hijack protest in Rivers
A First Bank in Churchill and Keystone Bank along Aggrey Road in the old Port Harcourt Township was on Friday vandalized when the hoodlums hijacked a protest against cash scarcity.
It wqs gathered that customers on Thursday attacked the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) at Rumuokoro in Obio/Akpor forcing the institution to close down on Friday.
Customers were said to have stormed the First Bank and Keystone Bank in the town axis, but later started a protest that was hijacked by hoodlums from the waterfronts.
However, at First Bank, the hoodlums destroyed the Automated Teller Machines and shatter glass doors with stones, pulling down the gate of the bank, forcing their way into the banking hall and compelling employees to abandon their desks and fled.
They carted away computer monitors, desktops, water dispensers and other items inside the bank, but could not get cash.
At the Keystone Bank along Aggrey Road, only the two ATM Machine were reportedly destroyed.
Fear spread in the area as markets, shops and business premisses hurriedly closed for the day.
Residents deserted the streets and ran into their houses for safety
It was later learnt that policemen took over the entire Old Port Harcourt Township, particularly Lagos Bus Stop and Churchill.
Three police patrol vans were deployed in the area to stop a plot by the hoodlums to set the banks ablaze, shooting into the air to chase the hoodlums into the waterfronts.
