A broad daylight armed robbery attack on Friday against a bank customer at a complex on Shiroro Road in Minna, Niger, has exposed the underbelly of inadequate security across Nigeria.

In the attack, the customer lost N9 million to the criminals. He got his life as a spoil after a dramatic gunfight with the robbers.

Security experts discussed with Peoples Gazette how customers can avoid potential robbers’ booby traps after a bank transaction.

Consider cashless transactions: Big cash can bring calamity

Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesman for the police command in Niger, advised customers to adopt cashless transactions rather than carry large amounts of cash.

According to Beacon Security and Intelligence, making online transfers and electronic payments is “safer to reduce the need to carry large amounts of cash”.

“If the amount is significant, go with one or two trusted persons. In some cases, it may even help to move in two vehicles,” said BSI. “Criminals are less likely to target someone who is not alone.”

Ayodeji Bamgbose, the CEO of Proton Security Services in Lagos, noted that “carrying a large sum of cash from one bank premises to another commercial premises, as well as leaving the money in the car, is not advisable and makes no sense”.

Go ‘ghost mode’
BSI suggested avoiding “very predictable times such as late afternoons, Fridays, or the end of the month periods,” when some salary earners usually approach the bank to withdraw their wages.

Security experts also advise keeping your bank visits to yourself.

Ibrahim Alawode, the CEO of Periscope Security and Safety, said, “If you’re going to the bank, don’t tell people you’re going to collect money.”

“The fewer people who are aware, the lower the risk of information leaking or conversation reaching the wrong person,” stated BSI.

Ayo Osinowo, the operations manager for CCTV surveillance company, Hi Security, in Ikotun, Lagos, said, “The incident suggests he must have informed people ahead of time that he’s going to the bank to bring N10 million tomorrow. Some people will give their time and specify the bank they are going to. You should conceal your intention. You don’t need to reveal where you’re going.”

Get cash-in-transit services

Are you making a large cash withdrawal? BSI suggested you should “ask the bank about cash-in-transit service”.

T. O Olajide, the chairman of Olode Security Solutions, Omu-Aran in Kwara, said, “You’ll need a bullion van or security van to go to the bank to take N10 million in cash. You can’t just go in your private car. You should go with escorts, even if it’s a policeman or private security guard.”

A retired chief superintendent of police, Nelson Ebimieseigha, now serving as the chief security officer of Graylincs Security Services, based in Anambra, advised hiring cops for escort duty.

“Banks also have those kinds of facilities,” stated the former police officer. “They have bullion vans where they can use policemen to escort your cash, depending on the amount.”

“If you are withdrawing such a huge sum, and if you’re doing a legit job, it takes you nothing to involve the police, instead of losing the entire money to armed robbers,” Mr Osinowo stated. “Nobody should take such money from the bank without an escort.”

Keep cash, bank envelopes out of sight
“Leaving the banking hall holding visible bank envelopes or bags that suggest you are carrying money” is not a smart way to stay out of trouble, according to BSI. Mr Olajide advised placing cash in an ordinary bag.

‘Shine’ your eyes

BSI suggested varying one’s route.

“Stay alert to whether any car or motorcycle appears to be following or trailing you. Always pay attention to your surroundings when leaving the bank,” said the security outfit. “Notice people loitering near the entrance, recurring faces, vehicles that appear repeatedly behind you, or motorcycles following closely. If something feels unusual, change your route or stop in a busy area.”

Mr Ebimieseigha warned of bank moles who are syndicate members, observing and monitoring those withdrawing large amounts of cash before informing other co-conspirators to lay siege to the bank premises.

He said, “If you move such an amount without a bullion van or police security, that information might get to the group, and they will definitely come and attack you. There’s no way you will tell me that man withdrew that amount of money, knew he was going alone without escorts, and there would be no attack on him.”

Mr Ebimieseigha alleged that bank robbers usually have “insiders”. The security experts suggested other ways bank customers can beat the trap of robbers.

Park beside bullion vans

Mr Olajide said, “If you know you’re going to withdraw that much money, ask the bank security to allow you to park inside the entrance where their bullion vans normally park. They will open the gate for you, you’ll drive in, and pass through the back into the bank. Before that time, you will have called your account officer, then they’ll open the back for you.”

‘Pose’ in front of CCTV

Mr Osinowo noted that adequate CCTV coverage might help protect customers from robbery.

“If you’re going to the bank to withdraw a large sum, ensure you’re within the perimeter of every CCTV installed on that property, for your own safety,” stated Mr Osinowo. “Make sure the CCTV captures you as you enter and leave the bank premises, in case anything happens later. Also, make sure you park your vehicle in front of the CCTV, with the number plate showing, and position yourself well.”

How banks can protect customers from potential robbery
“If their security officers see persons who have nothing to do on their premises, they should know that those are the agents who want to see who is collecting which amount before they send the information to their syndicate member,” said Mr Bamgbose. “So, once they see them, they should apprehend them. They’ll find out that they are informants lurking around banks. Once you’ve arrested three or four, definitely, the information will get to their other members, who will then avoid that bank because people are being arrested.”

Mr Osinowo said, “By watching the camera, if somebody is just standing around the premises doing nothing for about five minutes, inform the security guys. If a man is parking in a strange manner in front of another car, they should invite the police and ask them, ‘What are you standing there for?’ ‘Why did you park here?’”

Mr Osinowo advised that the bank’s CCTV should cover about 200 to 300 meters from the bank.

“That’s how security measures should be done, because armed robbers will not stay one kilometre away from you,” he noted. “They want to see you and maintain eye contact.”

Mr Osinowo disclosed that “there are some guys permanently in front of banks watching you”.

“That’s why CCTV in the bank should have people there. Sadly, they don’t employ people to watch their cameras,” Mr Osinowo stated. “They only use it as a backup. When an event happens, and they go back to it later, it’s wrong. There should be somebody sitting in front of the cameras, watching things unfold and zooming in on the surroundings for 24 hours.”

The security expert alleged that  banks do not want to “pay money to somebody just sitting in front of a camera”.

“They probably think it’s a waste of time. They prefer to go there and play back. You shouldn’t wait until an event happens,” added Mr Osinowo. “You can always prevent it. Every facility should have cameras, and they should be ready to give the government their footage when needed, especially banks.”

Using facial recognition to track robbers

Mr Osinowo also suggested using facial recognition machines to track, “look into back ends and scan, to show you that oh, this image just appeared in Iyana-Ipaja, Agege or Lekki-Epe Expressway”.

“If you give the image from your own database to the police, and they look it up in their system, they should be able to tell you which other places their cameras have also captured that image,” said Mr Osinowo. “That should be the standard.”