Deposit Money Banks in the country have lost an estimated N5 billion following recent attacks on their branches and destruction of their facilities including Automated Teller Machines (ATM).
This is according to information released by the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI).
President of ASSBIFI, Oluwole Olusoji, disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos, on Thursday.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE had earlier reported that at least 12 banks’ branches and facilities had been destroyed in the last 12 days across the country.
Olusoji pointed out that apart from bank buildings being burnt and ATMs destroyed, bank officials were also affected.
He said 17 bank branches had so far been attacked.
“Notwithstanding the insecurity due to the destruction of business premises within the banking industry, and the impact on insurance organisations, we remain committed to go the extra mile in providing service to our customers in safe and secure environments.
“However, we value the lives of our members and colleagues and will not put them at any further risk. We have, therefore, put them on alert and shall instruct them without further warning to immediately stay away from their branches if these attacks on our members and facilities continue until such a time that they can be guaranteed of their personal safety and the security of their workplaces by the relevant authorities,” he said.
Olusoji, therefore, called on the public to desist from threatening or attacking ASSBIFI members or destroying banks’ property as they will be only proverbially cutting their noses to spite their faces.
“We can only give what we have been provided with and nothing more,” he added.
