Edo residents storm ATM terminals at 5.00 a.m. to withdraw cash

Some residents of Benin City, Edo State, trooped out as early as 5:00 am., on Saturday, to various banks Automated Teller machines (ATM) terminals to withdraw money so as to celebrate Christmas.

Many of them went home disappointed on Friday when they were unable to withdraw money as almost all the ATM terminals has long queues.

This made them to leave home early on Saturday with the hope of getting money on these terminals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that few of the ATMs in some banks visited in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Saturday, were dispensing cash.

Many of the residents told NAN that they had been at some of the banks as early as 5.00 a.m. to avoid the crowd that would arrive at the bank premises later.

They also raised concerns about the difficulty in getting access to the machines which they alleged were not even filled with enough cash for the day.

For instance, Mr John Ebidah said people had been exposed to risk all in the attempt to withdraw money via ATMs.

He called for relevant authorities to urgently look into the matter, especially bank managers in Benin.

Another resident, Mr Osato Owie, alleged that the banks deliberately refused to put enough money in the machines.

“I don’t understand how one, with his money in the bank, can find it extremely difficult to make use of ATMs.

Similarly, Mrs Nkechi Goddy-Asekomhe said after several attempt at making use of the ATM, she met with an official of a particular bank.

“He told me that it was because of the cash challenges that made the bank to load few ATMs,” she stated.