Soldiers defy Buhari’s order on checkpoints in Edo, Delta

Dominic AdewoleNews0

Some soldiers yesterday disregarded the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, who ordered the immediate dismantling of military checkpoints on highways across the country. The military checkpoint on the Benin-Agbor road by Ogan, a village in Edo State, was still intact as at yesterday.

It will be recalled that President Buhari had through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila, announced the removal of such military checkpoints and ordered the police to take charge of internal security across the country.

But at Ogan, Orhionmwon Local Council in Edo State, which links Edo and its neighbouring Delta State, armed soldiers were seen on both sides of the highway yesterday manning the busy road, which was partially barricaded with woods and other objects. Motorists and motorcyclists had hectic time negotiating through the frisked checkpoint, which had generated a traffic gridlock even as a line of commuters wait to be searched before passing through the bottleneck.

A driver, who simply identified himself as Odion, who plies the route, lamented that so many precious hours were being wasted as the soldiers usually insist on searching all the vehicles before being allowed to continue their journey.

Odion’s colleague, Obi, said the presidential order was a doubleedged sword. According to him, it was supposed to be a welcome development for motorists, but that armed robbers may resume on the roads.

“I have had a terrible experience with the soldiers at Ogan checkpoint, who horsewhipped and jackbooted me for failing to slow down.

It was one hell of a day. At the same time, I am not happy that they should disappear from the roads, because their disappearance may signal the return of robbers on the roads. “We hardly encounter robbers on the road because of the presence of soldiers at the checkpoints, but the soldiers also extort money from us,” Obi said