Residents Urge First Bank to Reopen Ido Ani Branch

Residents of Ido Ani in Ondo State are appealing to the management of First Bank Nigeria to reopen its branch, which has been closed for seven years due to a robbery attack in April 2019. This attack reportedly resulted in the theft of an undisclosed sum from an ATM and the deaths of at least six individuals, including a police officer and a school vice principal.

Mr. Steve Otaloro, a community leader, expressed the residents' concerns, describing the closure as inconsistent with the legacy of the bank's first indigenous managing director, Chief Samuel Oyewole Asabia.

The Ido Ani branch, established in 1980 during Asabia's tenure, served as a significant financial hub for the community and surrounding areas. The closure has forced local business owners to travel long distances for banking services, impacting economic activities.

Otaloro urged the current management to reconsider the previous administration's decision, stressing the importance of restoring banking services to honor the community's historical ties with First Bank.