Security has been beefed up in Offa, a community in Kwara State, following an alleged text message warning of an impending attack on banks by armed robbers.

The security beef-up is mostly noticed around commercial banks in the ancient city. The banks recently commenced operations, having been closed down for several months following the December 19, 2013 robbery that nearly marred social and commercial activities in the community.

 Following the attack, the community had mobilised resources together by buying operational vehicles for security agencies to complement their patrol efforts.

 Armed security operatives were deployed to all the banks on Thursday and Friday last week to reinforce surveillance, even as banks’ internal security operatives subject every customer to rigorous search before being allowed into their premises.

 A customer who visited one of the banks on Friday said, “We were scared by the presence of security men, armed to the teeth around the banks. It was really unusual.”

 Investigations by Sunday Trust indicate that the security operatives, comprising the police, soldiers, members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others, also raided hotels and some areas notorious for harbouring criminals.

 A security source confirmed the increased security surveillance to our correspondent, saying, “This started from Wednesday when we got this rumour which we don’t want to take for granted. We are now on red alert.”

 When contacted, spokesman of the police command, Mr. Okasanmi Ajayi, however, denied knowledge of the rumoured text message, saying the increased security presence was a normal effort to forestall security breach.

 “Whatever security arrangement you see there is part of measures put in place by the command to ensure that there is no security breach,” he said.