Against the backdrop of tensions building up due to the Naira scarcity in Bonny Island, Rivers State, Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Dame Anengi Claude-Wilcox has appealed for calm, warning against attacks on commercial banks in the area.
Dame Wilcox, who gave this warning via a statement by her spokesman, Boma Waribor on Friday, March 10, 2023, said she shares in the pains citizens were going through nationwide, especially, in Bonny LGA, as a result of difficulties in accessing cash owing to the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Government.
She expressed displeasure over the recent attacks on commercial banks in the area, saying that such deliberate attempts at disrupting the relative peace being enjoyed in the LGA was uncalled for and could cause social unrest.
The statement said her administration was displeased at the manner some citizens resort to self-help by assuming the position of the law, stressing that she shares in the pains citizens were passing through as a result of difficulties in accessing cash owing to the Naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Government.
She expressed her appreciation over the understanding exhibited by the people amidst the pain, encouraging them not to take laws into their hands by causing mayhem and disrupting the operations of commercial banks, noting that violence does not solve problems.
The Bonny LGA chief executive, however, called on the management of banks in Bonny to look into the plight of the residents and render effective service to curb the hardship and undue suffering they were experiencing.
Dame Wilcox also charged security agencies in Bonny LGA to remain vigilant and apprehend while advising citizens to go about their normal activities and report any breach of public peace to the relevant authorities.
Efforts by Kristina Reports to get the reaction of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the situation and what interventions were being envisaged to contain the unraveling situation was yet unsuccessful as messages sent to the CBN Branch Controller in Port Harcourt were yet to be responded to as at the time of this report.
A top source in the security sector in Bonny, who preferred anonymity, hinted Kristina Reports that the situation was of grave concern to the security agencies in Bonny LGA, adding that the CBN has been contacted to reach to the commercial banks in Bonny with a view to supplying cash to the island community to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
That is a good move, but please we want the banks to come to our aid , we need money in Bonny kingdom the sufferings people are going through is so much. And things are becoming so expensive every day.