News
Ondo gov poll: Customers blame parties as banks run out of cash
With just a week to the Ondo State governorship election, residents are feeling the pinch of severe cash shortages in commercial banks across the state.
Politicians from the major political parties had been making large withdrawals from banks and stockpiling cash to buy votes.
Our correspondent learnt that customers who wanted to withdraw money over the counter were given less than what they requested because of the unavailability of cash in commercial banks across the state.
A source in a new generation bank disclosed that the politicians had been withdrawing millions of naira from banks in the last one week.
They were alleged to be colluding with bank managers to make the withdrawal easy.
The source said, “In the past few weeks, there has been a high flow of cash in the state because politicians, particularly members of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party have colluded with bank managers to withdraw huge amounts of money daily. When the politicians ‘settle’ the bankers, they permit them to withdraw as much as they want. I can tell you authoritatively that the politicians are withdrawing millions of naira in cash from the banks, with the assistance of the managers.
“That is why we don’t have much cash to give customers. If you go to banks now, little cash is available in all their branches across the state. They are withdrawing money for their logistics in the campaigns and also keeping the money to buy votes on election day.”
Some bank customers, who spoke to our correspondent, said they had been finding it difficult to withdraw money across the counter.
While blaming politicians, the residents stated that the bankers informed them that they had little cash available in their branches.
A customer, who identified himself as Tunde, said he was disappointed to reach one of the commercial banks in Akure on Thursday only to be informed that he could not withdraw more than N10,000 from the counter.
He added that the bankers advised him to go out and withdraw from the Point-of-Sale machines outside.
“I was surprised that when I got to my bank on Thursday to withdraw N50,000, the man at the counter told me that cash was not available and that they couldn’t give me more than N2,000 cash. I was angry and I asked him the reason; they told me they didn’t get much cash from the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria),” the customer lamented.
Another bank customer told said that it had been a problem getting cash from the banks in Ondo State.
He said he was given the sum of N10,000 from his bank recently when he wanted to withdraw N30,000. Later, he was asked to go and use PoS for the remaining.
“I use one of the new generation banks. I got there to withdraw N30,000 cash to settle some bills but I was told I could only be given N10,000 as the highest I could withdraw from the counter. I asked the reason for this, but the only answer I got was little cash was available in the branch for customers,” he added.
A manager of one of the branches of a commercial bank, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the development.
He said little cash was left in the banks for customers to withdraw after politicians mopped up huge amounts of money from the banks.
The source said, “As a matter of fact, even before now, the amount of money in circulation is very low generally, not only in Ondo State, but there is a way we adequately manage the available money given to us. That is not known to the public. For instance, the CBN in Akure has mandated all the banks in its domain that you cannot withdraw (from the CBN) more than twice within two weeks, unlike before that we will go there Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to withdraw cash. But now, they are dealing with us two times a week.
“Then, on the withdrawal by politicians, it is not a lie. It is really happening. It is not limited to only one bank but virtually all the commercial banks in the state. There are some locations that per week, they mop up close to N300m, N200m. You can see that when that one is gone from a branch, there is no way you can serve an ordinary man who wants to withdraw N50,000, N100,000. It is very unfortunate.”
Another source alleged that the chieftains of all political parties approached banks for cash, but the ruling APC and the PDP were most responsible for the cash crisis in Ondo banks.
“They withdraw huge sums to keep for vote-buying on the election day,” he added.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police .
The six persons led by Mr Chukwuebuka Ohaechesi, include Emma Okonkwo, Jude Uwa, Gentle Okoro, Uchenna Dike, and Emmanuel Nwankwo who are said to be at large.
The were said to have fled to neighboring states in the South East hence signaling the other four Police Commands in the geopolitical zone to assist in the manhunt for them
The Police accused them of executing protests against the detaintion of the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently serving jail terms in Sokoto Correction Center.
According to a statement issued by the Abia Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eguavon Omokaro, the individuals are suspected members of IPOB who have allegedly participated in protests at various times and locations within the state.
The statement alleged that the protests were organised in connection with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demands for justice through the judicial process.
The Police Command further stated that these protests have allegedly resulted in breaches of peace and disruptions to law and order in Abia State. Consequently, the Police Intelligence Department reportedly concluded that the named individuals were among the principal organisers and coordinators of the demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that; ;
“It should be noted that on every 30th day of May, these men and their cohorts convene for the so-called remembrance of Biafra, holding clandestine meetings at various locations in the name of the emancipation of the Biafran Republic and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the police, the six individuals were invited on several occasions for questioning in relation to the allegations against them.
The statement indicated that the first invitation was issued on 18 December 2025, followed by a second invitation on 7 February 2026, and a third invitation on 3 March 2026.
The police alleged that the individuals failed to honour all three invitations.
The statement further asserted:
“These individuals were invited by the police on several occasions. Firstly, on 18 December 2025, they failed to honour the invitation. Again, they were invited on 7th February 2026 and failed to appear. Finally, they were invited on 3 March 2026, and they also failed to present themselves before the police.” It stated.
As a result, the Abia State Police Command announced that all six individuals had been formally declared wanted.
The police appealed to members of the public to provide any reliable information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution, stating that informants would be suitably rewarded.
The declaration of the six individuals as wanted persons is linked to allegations of their participation in pro-Biafra activities, demonstrations concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and their alleged association with IPOB, an organisation that has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and security operations by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan argued that Wike may not fully understand the pain and trauma experienced by parents of abducted children and affected teachers. He claimed that the minister’s children were educated abroad, away from the security challenges facing many Nigerian families.Nigerian entertainment news
The activist stated that insecurity, kidnapping, and attacks on schools remain serious national concerns and should not be dismissed or reduced to political issues. He stressed that the fears and frustrations of parents whose children face security threats deserve greater attention from public officials.
VeryDarkMan further warned that political power is temporary, urging leaders to remain accountable to the people and sensitive to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
DSS Detains Novelist Okey Ndibe at Lagos Airport, Awaits Clearance from Abuja
Renowned Nigerian novelist, journalist, and academic, Okey Ndibe, was reportedly detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday morning.
Ndibe disclosed his situation in a message sent while in custody, stating: “I’ve been with the SSS now for more than an hour. They’re waiting for clearance from some oga before they let me go.”
According to sources close to the writer, his detention follows a pattern that dates back to previous administrations, including that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, during which he was frequently stopped and questioned over his critical commentaries on Nigerian governance and public affairs.
However, associates noted that Ndibe has largely stepped away from active commentary in Nigerian media over the past two years, focusing instead on writing books and his academic responsibilities at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches.
A close friend of the author and former Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said similar incidents had occurred several times in the past. He explained that airport DSS officials typically contacted their superiors in Abuja before eventually releasing Ndibe.
“It is a pity that this agency doesn’t update its database to enable officers on duty at the airport to know that the agency no longer regards Prof. Ndibe as a security threat to the administration,” Adinuba said.
He added that on previous occasions, the DSS had apologized to the respected author after determining that his detention was unwarranted.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the DSS regarding the circumstances surrounding Ndibe’s latest detention. The development has raised renewed concerns about the treatment of government critics and the continued use of security watchlists affecting returning Nigerians.
Hegseth made the disclosure during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, where he said the directive was issued about a year ago after Trump became aware of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
He explained that the operation involved behind-the-scenes coordination and deployment of military assets, adding that intelligence gathered during the mission contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’s second-in-command, during a joint operation involving U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria, and he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians,’” Hegseth said.
According to him, the operation yielded significant results in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he stated.
Hegseth added that working on the Intel gathered, they have killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria.
The U.S. defence chief described the operation as part of the Trump administration’s broader commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities.
“So there are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the President empowers the Department to do on behalf of the American people that he deserves great credit for,” Hegseth stated.
ISIS second in command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a coordinated U.S.-Nigeria military operation in northeast Nigeria earlier this month.
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