As the scarcity of the redesigned Naira notes persists, some banks are shutting their branches over rising attacks by angry customers.
This came a day after the Lagos State Police Command issued a warning that some groups were planning to unleash violence in the state due to the naira scarcity.
It was observed that some of the banks had started to allow non-essential employees to work from home.
Findings show Zenith Bank has shut down some branches in Lagos State over the fear of attacks by angry Nigerians due to the ongoing naira scarcity.
Since the naira redesign policy started, banks have been at the receiving end of the frustration of Nigerians.
Videos of individuals climbing counters, stripping, and expressing their anger in banking halls have circulated on social media.
Nigerians have been going through hardships in getting their hands on the new naira notes as the February 10 deadline approaches.
This has led to attacks on some banks in the state, as states like Edo and Oyo have witnessed protests that degenerated into riots.
Recently, banks have been subjected to violent attacks. In Ibadan, a Wema Bank branch was vandalised when riots broke out over the weekend. This has led to increased security and caution around many banks.
With the heightened tension accompanying the protracted naira scarcity in the country, some commercial banks on Tuesday directed some of their branches to shut down operations until further notice.
It was gathered that some bank branches in certain parts of Lagos with no cash to pay customers were asked to shut down operations.
The directive, it was gathered, was to forestall possible violent reactions by frustrated customers who had already begun to take laws into their hands in some parts of the country.
The source further stated that the closure of some of the banks had become necessary due to the untenable attitude of frustrated customers who believe that commercial banks are to blame for the hardship associated with the current naira scarcity.