The Management of Diamond Bank Plc on Wednesday confirmed that there was a fire incident as a result of mob action at its Creek Road, Apapa branch in Lagos State.
In a press statement, Head, Corporate Communications, Chioma Afe, said the bank was set ablaze by an angry mob after a policeman allegedly shot dead a trailer driver outside the bank premises.
It reads: “We had a fire incident at our branch office on Creek Road, Apapa which severely damaged branch infrastructure as a result of mob action.
“We are working with the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to investigate actions leading to the fire incident.
“While these investigations are ongoing, the branch will be closed to customers for their safety and to allow for completion of all repairs”.
“We will continue to provide updates to our customers via our social media platforms and print media and we urge those customers in the Apapa area to use our broad range of alternate delivery channels like the Diamond Mobile app, Diamond Online, Diamond ATMs and Contact Centre to carry out their transactions.
“For those who need to visit a branch location, our closest branches to the Apapa area are situated in Ebute Metta, 1, Market Street,Oyingbo, Opposite Bhojsons Ltd Yaba, Iddo Market Mini, Iddo Ultramodern Market, Surulere, 31, Bode Thomas Street and Amuwo Odofin, Plot Nos 21, 22 & 23 Opposite Abc Transport Terminal are available to process their requests”.
Two banks at Apapa area of Lagos were set on fire on Wednesday when dozens of tanker drivers went on rampage over the death of one of their colleagues.
The aggrieved tanker drivers had targeted the banks over the death of one of them, said to have been caused by a mobile policeman attached to Diamond Bank on Burma Road.
Reports say the irate mob also set a Sterling Bank branch on Wharf Road ablaze, in the process destroying properties and other valuables.
It was gathered that the trailer drivers had indiscriminately parked in front of the bank as they usually do.
The policemen who were attached to the bank at first approached them to make way for customers to come in and carry out their financial transactions.
When attempts to move them proved abortive, one of the policemen attached to the bank had shot sporadically into the air to scare the drivers off.
But an expended pellet hit one of the tanker drivers, who bled and died on the spot before help could come.
Angered by the development, the tanker drivers had regrouped and after setting the bank ablaze, went berserk and set the second bank, Diamond Bank, ablaze.
