Michael Ofulue
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As festive period fast approaches, the Ondo State police command has disclosed that for adequate security during the yuletide and new year, it  has mapped out patrol strategies across the state,  as customers flood various commercial banks to transact various  businesses especially in Akure,  the state capital.

The Hope  Metro went to town and observed that the command  has begun aggressive police patrols in the  nooks and crannies of the state, trying to create awareness that they are fully on ground to forestall and guarantee the safety of lives of every citizen going about their lawful and legitimate duties.

The security measures, according to police sources,  was to forestall any possible  attack by hoodlums who might capitalise on this yuletide  season to carry out their nefarious activities.

It was learnt that many customers were seen besieging the banks to transact business just as others were at various Automated Teller Machine (ATM) centres,  trying to withdraw money for preparation towards Christmas.

The Hope Metro further observed that  between the hours of 8am to 4am,  a significant number of customers approach their respective banks, making various  transactions, while some police detectives were seen moving around on surveillance and patrol.

One of the customers, who spoke on condition of anonymity  said he had  been on the queue  in the bank for hours after his earlier attempt to withdraw through the ATM was unsuccessful.

“I have been here for the past two hours. I first approached the ATM and it was not dispensing.I decided to go into the bank thinking that it would be easier and quicker, but the people on queue were many.

“This is festive period. It is not good to stay too long in the bank, because of fear of armed robbery attack. Everybody must be security conscious at this time around,” he stated.

But  a bank official in one of the banks in Alagbaka, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, debunked Chiyerem’s assertion and claim and attributed  the problem to shortage of staff.

He told The Hope Metro that there are few staff to attend to customers, especially in  this Christmas  period where many customers are coming for one transaction or the other.

He advised people to be security conscious and go about their lawful duties,  while they should immediately  pass useful information to the police, saying,  “fighting crime needs a collaborative efforts by everybody. It should not to be left in the hands of security agencies alone.”