Treasure Samuel, a Kaduna-based content writer, has narrated how the manager of an Access Bank branch in Kafanchan ordered guards to physically assault him on the bank’s premises.

Samuel told FIJ that he was beaten and humiliated by the guards on Thursday because he recorded a video of bank customers being prevented from using the bank’s ATMs.

“I was already at the ATM stand at the Access Bank branch in Kafanchan around 11am on Thursday. I noticed that the Access Bank staff were withdrawing cash from an ATM on the bank premises,” Samuel told FIJ.

Treasure Samuel

“The incident happened around 3 pm, when the branch manager came out and instructed that the ATM outside be stopped from dispensing cash to customers.

“Unfortunately for me, the bank manager saw me recording the staff members withdrawing cash after he had ordered that the ATM serving customers be stopped from further dispensing cash to the public.

“She immediately ordered the security guards and the policemen attached to the branch to forcefully whisk me into the bank’s compound. They then slapped me very hard and repeatedly ordered me to take off my clothes.

Some Access Bank staff members at the ATM stand inside

“They also forcefully collected my phone from me and asked me to sit on the floor like a criminal.”

Customers queue endlessly before a cashless ATM

The incident was confirmed by a businessman simply identified as Musa, who was in the queue with Samuel. He said, “The bank manager asked the security men to take him (Samuel) inside.”

“They slapped him. Later, they released him.”

FIJ sent an email to Access Bank on Saturday for comments, but it had not been responded to at press time.