With news making the rounds that some security officials attached to a branch of Fidelity Bank assaulted customers of the bank, the bank’s management have swiftly swooped in to nip the rumours in the bud before the fake news affect the reputation of the bank.
The incident was captured in a video first circulated online by a popular blog. The video, which has since gone viral, showed two policemen believed to be guarding the bank kicking and slapping the victims while official of Fidelity Bank watched on.
Expectedly, the incident led to widespread anger and backlash with customers of the bank and social media users joining to condemn the display of jungle justice on the bank premises.
In a swift reaction to the public criticism, the bank management released a statement through its divisional head, Brands and Communications, Charles Aigbe, clarifying that the two victims were not customers of the bank but fraudsters trying to steal details of customers’ credit cards.
According to the statement, the two individuals were caught in the act of “shoulder surfing” by the security personnel on duty whom they proceeded to attack and injure, thereby leading to the intervention of the mobile policemen shown in the video.
“No Fidelity Bank official ordered any violence against customers as alleged and there was no incidence of the branch ATM not dispensing cash.
“The matter has been reported to the police and the suspects have been handed over for prosecution.
“Fidelity Bank is customer-centric and we remain committed to providing easy and convenient banking and financial services in a safe environment for our customers and the banking public,” the statement concluded.