NEW NAIRA SWAP: Tension In Benin, Protesting Youths Storm City Center, Vandalized Banks While 3 Are Feared Dead.

By Mike Aladenika.

No fewer than 3 persons have been reported shot and died as the initially peaceful protest turned violent in benin city, Edo state Capital as youths protest the no availability of cash occasioned by the current cash swap policy of the Federal Government. 

As early as 7.00 am hundreds of youths stormed the Benin City Centre from the Siluko, Ugbowo and Sokpomba axis of the city in a peaceful protest. 

killed protester in Benin. Viewer's discretion solicited.

SPARKNEWSNAIJA reliably gathered that the protesters, though spontaneous, were seen changing solidarity songs demanding more currency and a stress-free platform to enable them present their old cash in exchange for a new one.

The youths on getting to the city centre and the business district of Akpakpava which accommodates the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN,  and other Banks, as well as the Mission Road and New Benin axis vented their frustration on the banks which has not been dispensing cash through their Automated Teller Merchines(ATM).

The irate youths who had  made attempts to burn down a branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Benin, over the rejection of old naira notes were, in their numbers, said to have  barricaded all roads, leading to the popular and ever-busy Ring Road, where the Nigeria’s  apex Bank was situated while making attempts to gain entrance.

It took the timely intervention of security operatives to salvage the situation, but not without the protesters destroying many commercial banks in the axis.

SPARKNEWSNAIJA's newscrew, who was caught up with the protest, reports that military officers began to shoot when they could to resist the push by the protesters.

The enraged protesters, who were visibly, carried leaves, sticks and other dangerous weapons descended on a branch of the First Bank of Nigeria, at the Ring Road roundabouts and destroyed its ATM gallery.

A source who spoke with our crew said "the disruption of activities, which caused a total gridlock at the heart of the city, started when depositors’ banks and business owners began to reject the old naira notes as a result of the CBN deadline.

When called to confirm the number of casualties, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo Police Command said he was yet to have information in that respect, but promised to revert later. 

However, one of the protesters, Godwin Osemwingie, said he saw three corpses on the ground with many other protesters with varying degree of injuries.

“The problem right now is that I went to the bank to deposit my old naira notes, they said they are not accepting it and even the bus drivers are also rejecting it. 

“You cannot buy anything. I just went to the bank, look at the money, this is Nigerian money and they are rejecting it. 

“How do they want us to survive? We can't buy and we can't sell; even the CBN has rejected the old money from us, why? That is why we are protesting,” he said.

For Osasere Enadaghe, he went to Bureau D’ Change (BDC) to exchange euro currency for Naira and was given old Naira notes of N30,000, only to get to where he intended buying some items and the sellers rejected it.

“What I see in this place now is very peculiar to us. We are passing through a difficult time. We don't know where we are going or where we are coming from. 

“I am just coming from Upper Sakponba this morning to change my money and before changing it, they told me that they collect both the old and the new money. 

“So, I went to the market to buy things but I was told that they cannot collect the old naira note, which aboki (BDC operator) gave me. 

“I just changed 50 euro this morning and I was given N30,000 old naira notes and the money is just a waste in my hand. What am I going to do with the money now,” said Enadaghe 

Precious Oruche, who said she visited the CBN to swap the old with new notes, described the situation as frustrating. 

“We did not see new money and we didn't see old money. The little ones we have, you said deadline and now that we want to return it, the CBN said no way. 

“I want to buy pure water, will I make a transfer of N10 to the seller and if the person accepts, what about the internet issues?

“People you see protesting they really don't want it but they are frustrated, Nigerians are frustrated, they have to stop.

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