Three persons, at least, have been killed during a chaotic demonstration in front of the Central Bank of Nigeria branch in Benin, Edo State.
According to sources, the demonstrators attacked and smashed a First Bank branch in the neighborhood on Wednesday with sticks, stones, and other weapons before moving on to the CBN branch with the purpose of damaging it.
Soldiers in military trucks responded by driving out of the bank while firing tear gas grenades and bullets.
The Edo State Police Command’s spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor, acknowledged the event when contacted by FIJ but declined to provide further details since the incident is “still fresh.”
According to a source who spoke to FIJ; “It happened this morning at Ring Road, King Square in Upper.”
“They just attacked and destroyed First Bank, then they started stoning the CBN branch that was just close by.
“They did not touch Polaris Bank. It was only First Bank and CBN. Soldiers came out and started shooting teargas and gunshots. Three people have died already.”
The move occurred after the CBN’s deadline of February 10, 2023, for exchanging old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes for new ones had passed.
Nigerians are protesting the lack of new notes, and major Nigerian cities have been shaken by demonstrations.
