TheCable Fact Check
  • Home
  • Fact Check
  • Fake News
  • Check Am For Wazobia
Reading: FACT CHECK: No, First Bank did not suspend operations in the south-east
Share
Latest News
MISINFO ALERT: Video of man shot by operative over ‘N5k bribe’ is from 2019, says customs
How to protect yourself from misinformation, disinformation in the AI age
FACT CHECK: Did Ibrahim Traore cancel Burna Boy’s proposed Burkina Faso concert?
CableCheck wins IFCN global fact check fund
Íhé ńgósị́ ébé Peter Obi sékpù àlà n’íhú Tinubu bụ̀ ǹkè é jìrì AI nwóghàrị̀á
Hoton Peter Obi ya durkusa ma Tinubu a Rome na hadi ne
Foto wey show as Peter Obi dey kneel down for Tinubu inside Vatican na photoshop
Peter Obi kò kúnlẹ̀ fún Tinubu ní Rome
Advertisement
Aa
TheCable Fact CheckTheCable Fact Check
Search
  • Home
  • Fact Check
  • Fake News
  • Check Am For Wazobia
Follow US

FACT CHECK: No, First Bank did not suspend operations in the south-east

Haleem Olatunji
By Haleem Olatunji Published June 2, 2021 4 Min Read
Share

On Wednesday, a piece of information began to spread on social media that First Bank of Nigeria has temporarily shut some branches in the south-east region over rising insecurity.

On Twitter, the information shared by multiple account users had garnered over hundreds of retweets and more than 400 likes as seen on few accounts.

In one of such tweets with over 450 engagements, a Twitter user identified as David Abdulrasak Atta faulted President Muhammadu Buhari for the development.

“First Bank has reportedly suspended operations in the SE… A scenario that a vindictive president would let play out to the detriment of the region and which can easily be blamed on IPOB. His line of action is to save the SE from enemies within. But you’re too angry to see,” Atta tweeted.

Another user, @HadesShield, said 65 First Bank branches have been temporarily closed in the south-east due to insecurity which has heightened attacks on security personnel and infrastructure.

“First Bank of Nigeria has decided to temporarily close its 65 branches in the South East due to Insecurity ravaging the region with ESN attacking security personnel and critical infrastructures,” it reads.

HOW TRUE IS THIS CLAIM?

Checks by TheCable revealed that First Bank had announced closure of 81 branches in the south-east region on May 31.

Although the reason for the decision was not stated by the bank, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group had ordered a sit-at home on May 31, to mark the 54th anniversary of Biafra.

Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesman, had earlier said human and vehicular movements would be restricted across the south-east to commemorate the Biafra Day celebration.

On May 31, First Bank announced that 81 branches in the region will be temporarily closed.

A breakdown of the affected branches shows that 17 outlets were temporarily closed in Imo state, 15 in Enugu, 4 in Ebonyi, 28 in Anambra, and 17 branches in Abia state.

“Our South East branches are temporarily closed today. Please use our alternative channels to transact. Thank you,” the bank tweeted.

https://twitter.com/FirstBankngr/status/1399337974211485703?s=19

Amid growing misinformation on the closure of its branches in the south-east, the tier-1 bank took to its social media accounts on Wednesday to discredit claims that its operation has been suspended in the region.

First Bank said its branches in the south-east region are opened for business, adding that members of the public are encouraged to disregard any contrary information.

“This is to inform the public that our South East branches are fully open for business. Please disregard any news making the rounds that is contrary to this,” it tweeted.

#YouFirst pic.twitter.com/qy9NiTncmM

— FirstBank Nigeria (@FirstBankngr) June 2, 2021

An official of First Bank communications unit had also confirmed to TheCable that the bank’s branches in the south-east are open for business.

VERDICT:

First Bank of Nigeria has not suspended its operations in the south-east. Claim that 65 branches are temporarily closed is false as the bank temporarily closed 81 branches in the region for just one day only. The branches are fully open for business

TAGGED: Fact Check, First Bank

Please send your feedback, claims to fact check and corrections requests to [email protected]

Haleem Olatunji June 2, 2021 June 2, 2021
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

POPULAR POSTS

Advertisement

MISINFO ALERT: Video of man shot by operative over ‘N5k bribe’ is from 2019, says customs

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reacted to a viral video showing its operatives implicated…

June 5, 2025

How to protect yourself from misinformation, disinformation in the AI age

The internet has made life somewhat easier, right? You want to read the news and…

June 4, 2025

FACT CHECK: Did Ibrahim Traore cancel Burna Boy’s proposed Burkina Faso concert?

There are reports that Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso’s military leader, has cancelled Afrofusion star Burna…

June 3, 2025

CableCheck wins IFCN global fact check fund

CableCheck, the fact-checking initiative of the Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNJF), has been awarded the…

May 30, 2025
Advertisement
Advertisement

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

MISINFO ALERT: Video of man shot by operative over ‘N5k bribe’ is from 2019, says customs

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reacted to a viral video showing its operatives implicated in the shooting of a…

Exclusives & FeaturesFact Check
June 5, 2025

How to protect yourself from misinformation, disinformation in the AI age

The internet has made life somewhat easier, right? You want to read the news and keep abreast of happenings around…

Fact CheckTop Stories
June 4, 2025

FACT CHECK: Did Ibrahim Traore cancel Burna Boy’s proposed Burkina Faso concert?

There are reports that Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso’s military leader, has cancelled Afrofusion star Burna Boy's free concert in the…

Fact Check
June 3, 2025

CableCheck wins IFCN global fact check fund

CableCheck, the fact-checking initiative of the Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNJF), has been awarded the BUILD 2025 grant by the…

Fact CheckTop Stories
May 30, 2025

CableCheck seeks to provide reliable tools and resources for readers to tackle the menace of fake and misleading materials constantly pushed into the public space from various sources. We monitor the accuracy of claims made in traditional and social media. We also provide a tracker to hold politicians and policymakers accountable for the plans and promises they make to the public. CableCheck is a project of the Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNJF), supported by the MacArthur Foundation and implemented by TheCable newspaper.

Follow US: 

LINKS

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Non-Partisanship Policy
  • Funding
  • Correction Policy
© Copyright TheCable. All Rights reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?