The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced the arrest of 15 persons over alleged destruction of banks in Oron Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon, confirmed the arrest to newsmen in Oron on Sunday.
MacDon 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.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the attack occurred on Friday when some youths protested over scarcity of Naira notes.
MacDon said: “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 break down of law and order.”
MacDon added that Durosinmi has called on residents to be law abiding as anyone caught vandalising public property would be dealt with decisively.
He 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 alleged directive by the union of bank employees to their members not to go to work where there were attacks on banking facilities.
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.
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