A widely shared video showing staff members at a Nigerian bank using a ladder to climb over a security wall to escape irate customers is genuine, the BBC’s Disinformation team has found.
The workers at Zenith Bank in Warri, Delta state, had been accosted by customers frustrated at not being able to get access money from ATM machines.
A staff member, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC that the trouble started after they informed customers that they had run out of new naira notes.
Zenith Bank staffs Ogunu branch Warri, fleeing the bank premises through the bank fence, over customers agitation, due to none availability of cash at the ATM machines. pic.twitter.com/gdJxDDFg7N
— Omagbemi Omatseye (@omaxman) February 7, 2023
There have been long queues outside banks in recent weeks as Nigerians seek to exchange their old banknotes for new ones before the 10 February deadline – extended from 31 January.
Many banks have placed a limit because of the shortage to the frustration of customers.
