Some irate protesters on Wednesday set ablaze some commercial banks in Warri, Delta state over the persisting scarcity of the redesigned naira notes.
Videos seen by Peoples Gazette showed a burning First Bank building and at least three ATMs already destroyed by the angry demonstrators.
A signpost bearing the name and elephant logo of First bank was also vandalised in the chaotic protest.
Another video showed thick puffs of smoke billowing near an Access Bank facility with demonstrators scattered across the street. They also erected barricades on the roads to block passage of cars and vehicles.
Union Bank on Udu road in Warri was not exempted as aggrieved youths unleashed violence on the bank’s facility in frustration of the scarce new notes.
Campaign billboards for PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and David Okowa’s presidential bid were angrily defaced by the protesters.
Sirens that signalled the arrival of security agents did not faze the protesters who remained defiant and made no attempt to flee.
Spokesman for the Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, says nine persons have been arrested for the arson and vandalism of the banks.
“In UDU LGA of Delta State, some unguided youths/miscreants in the name of protest have set two banks and two vehicles ablaze. We have arrested nine suspects so far.”, Mr Edafe wrote in a tweet. “Some persons will still call this protest.”
The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned until February 22 the hearing of a suit that sought a restraining order on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop the full implementation of the naira redesign policy.
SOURCE: PEOPLES GAZETTE
