Protest DAY 2: Shops open in Umuahia as banks remain shut

Bank customers had a bad day on Friday in Umuahia as banks in the Abia State capital refused to open for business, citing security concerns.

This is even as markets and shops in the city reopened for businesses.

A move around Library Avenue popularly known as Bank Road by DAILY POST showed that banks shut their doors against customers, with their security officers appealing to customers to use alternative banking systems or return by next week.

Only two banks were seen attending to customers silently and allowed its Automated Teller Machines and ATMs for the customers to use.

At Akanu Ibiam Road, the story was the same; the banks did not open for business, leaving their customers disappointed.

In one of the banks, a customer simply identified as Ndukwe was seen lamenting that his wedding scheduled for Sunday had been ruined as he could not gain entry into the bank to withdraw his money in a Fixed Account.

However, at markets in the city, including the Isi Gate market and Orie Ugba market, sellers and buyers were seen trading, unlike Thursday when the markets looked near-deserted.

In Umuahia North LGA headquarters, the council gate was locked at 11 am.

There was relative calm around the town and nobody was seen protesting or unleashing violence and no resident was in any way attacked.