Nine years after the robbery attack on three banks in Ikirun, the headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State on February 12, 2016, residents are still haunted by the memory of the incident that claimed 32 lives, RASAQ IBRAHIM reports.
The infamous bank robbery attack that occurred in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State on February12, 2016, has left an indelible mark on the ancient community.The attack, which claimed 32 lives, including four police personnel, two bank workers, and seven members of the robbery gang, has had far-reaching consequences for the town and its people.
The banks, First Bank, Polaris Bank and Union Bank, situated on the same street,
which were the life wire of the town’s economy, have remained closed since the attack. The structures, once bustling with activities, now stand as a stark reminder of the horrific and tragic event.
While weeds have overgrown the premises of First Bank and Polaris Bank and reptiles have made them their home, Union Bank branch has been converted to a supermarket.
Experience of the attack is still vivid in the minds of the residents, who recall the pain, grief and sorrow that filled the air as the dare-devil attackers laid siege to the banks.
The robbers, mainly youths between the ages of 25 and 35, had arrived in the town around 1:30 pm and went straight to a shop beside First Bank, where some police officers were seated, and rained bullets on them before they began operation.
The robbery gang, armed with powerful explosives including dynamite, blew their way into the banking halls, ripped through the banks vaults in a commando-style and shot indiscriminately in all directions to scare residents away.
Small-scale business operators, market women and traders in the neighborhood hurriedly shut their shops and scampered in different directions to avoid being caught in the web of the horrific attack.
Like a Nollywood movie, the robbers were simply unstoppable as they wreaked havoc on the three financial institutions and threw Ikirun community into mourning with no fewer than 26 residents killed.
The attack, which left countless others injured, was a ruthless blow to the peace in the serene ancient community. The effects of the carnage was widespread, leaving in its trail a landscape marked by devastation and grief.
However, the robbers did not make a clean getaway as a team of police operatives from the Iragbiji Police Division and Special Anti-Robbery Squad responded swiftly to distress calls and prevented them from escaping with their loot.
The plain-clothed policemen had barricaded all the roads that led to the community and engaged the dare-devil robbers who were armed to the teeth in a gun duel that lasted for 30 minutes.
In the process, seven members of the robbery gang lost their lives while others who fled with severe gunshot injuries were later arrested by police and subsequently convicted by the court.
But the aftermath of the attack has had a significant impact on economic activities in the town, forcing residents to rely on Point of Sale (PoS) terminals or travel to Osogbo, the Osun State capital or Offa in Kwara State for banking services. The absence of banking services has resulted in increased costs for business owners and residents, who must pay fees for PoS transactions or travel long distances to access banking services.
The situation has affected not only the local economy but also the social lives of residents, who struggle to access basic financial services. The indefinite closure of the banks has also had a ripple effect on neighbouring communities which previously relied on the Ikirun banks for financial services.
Towns like Obaagun, Iree, Oore, Eko-Ajala Eko-Ende, Iragbiji, Iba, Inisha, Agba and Ada have been forced to seek alternative banking solutions at a higher cost.
The absence of banking services in the community has also hindered economic growth and development in the region. Businesses have been forced to adapt to the new reality, often relying on informal financial systems at higher costs.
The lack of banking services has stifled socio-economic growth in the ancient community. Businesses are struggling to survive while investors are hesitant to come to Ikirun for lack of banking facilities.
Apart from economic impact, the closure of the banks has also had psychological impact on the residents. The trauma of the attack still lingers, and the absence of banking services has created a sense of uncertainty.
Residents are lamenting the impact of the bank closure on their daily lives. “It’s a daily struggle,” said Mr. Oyetunji Jamiu, a fashion designer in Ikirun.
“I have to travel to Osogbo or Offa just to access basic banking services. It’s not just the distance but the cost too.
“I have to spend money on transportation and sometimes I have to close my shop for the whole day.
“It is affecting my business, and my customers are not happy about it.”
Another resident, Mr Akinola Abiola, the CEO of Boldwealth Communications in the community, lamented that “it’s been nine years since the attack, and we are still struggling to access basic banking services,
“The lack of financial institutions stifling economic growth and development in our town. Businesses are struggling, and investors are hesitant to come here because of the banking situation.
“We need the banks to reopen or alternative banking solutions to be implemented.”
Mrs Jayeola Sadiat, a trader who sells building materials, said: “We’re struggling to survive without the banks.
“Our businesses are collapsing and we are losing customers.
“We need the banks to reopen so we can access our money and conduct transactions easily.”
A community leader, Mr Timothy Oyaleke, lamented that lack of banking services has forced residents to rely on Point of Sale terminals or travel long distances to access banking services.
He said: “I have to travel to Osogbo just to access basic financial services. It is not only inconvenient but also expensive.
“I am tired of paying fees for PoS transactions and spending money on transportation.”
He lamented that the ugly situation has affected businesses negatively, saying, “We can’t access loans or other financial services. It’s like we’re living in a different era.”
He added that businesses have been forced to adapt to the new reality, often relying on informal financial systems at higher costs.
Another resident, Oke Waliyulahi, a fish farmer, said lack of banking services had stiffled growth and development in the community.
“Banking services are essential for any community’s socio-economic growth.
“Without them, we are forced to rely on informal financial systems that are often expensive and unreliable,” he added.
Mrs Janet Ibitola, whose son was among those who died during the robbery attack, said the trauma of the attack still lingers in the minds of family members while the absence of banking services has created a sense of uncertainty.
She said: “The attack was a traumatic experience for all of us. But we have moved on.
“We want the banks to reopen so we can access the financial services we need to grow our businesses and improve our lives.”
She called on the Osun State Government and banking institutions to take urgent action towards reopening the banks in the community.
“We urge the bank managements and the government to look into our situation and find a solution.
“We need banks to facilitate daily transactions and support businesses,” Ibitola added.
The Chairman of Moboreje Community in Ikirun, Mr. Tajudeen Aderinto, also appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and ensure the return of banking services in the community.
He said the community and neighbouring towns are eager to see the banks reopen and provide the much-needed relief to residents and businesses.
“The current situation is unsustainable, and something needs to be urgently done to address the financial needs of the community.
“The government and banking institutions must work together to find a solution to this problem, which has lingered for far too long.
“The people of Ikirun and surrounding towns deserve access to basic financial services, and it is the responsibility of the government and banking institutions to provide this”, the community leader said.
