The Akwa Ibom Police Command says 15 persons have been arrested over alleged vandalisation of banks in Oron Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Odiko MacDon disclosed this to journalists on Sunday.
He said, “We received information that some banks were attacked in Oron local government and the police immediately swung into action.
“As we speak about 15 persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.
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“Some youths in the community had staged a protest to express their grievances over scarcity of naira notes, on Friday.
“The Commissioner of Police, Mr Olatoye Durosinmi expressed sadness about the situation and directed Divisional Police Officers in the affected local governments to ensure that there is no further breakdown of law and order.”
The police spokesman added that the commissioner has called on residents to be law abiding as anyone caught vandalising public property would be dealt with decisively.
MacDon said that the Police would do everything possible to ensure that Akwa Ibom remained one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.
Residents are already afraid that banks in the area may not open on Monday following an alleged directive by the union of bank employees to their members not to go to work where there were attacks on banking facilities.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a source in the area said no fewer than three banks located along Oron road in the local government and a Cold Room belonging to a member of the National Assembly were destroyed during the protest.