Soldiers comb River Niger Head Bridge Asaba, frog jump motorists

STERN looking military men of Operation Python Dance which was recently launched by the Nigerian Army in the South East to provide security in the zone, on Thursday combed the surroundings of the River-Niger Head Bridge in Asaba Delta State, leaving motorists in fear of the unknown while they discipline those who refused to take orders.
The heavily armed soldiers descended on motorists who failed to obey their rules of “stop and search” by subjecting them to ‘frog jump’ for several minutes before they were let off the hook.

Expectedly, the soldiers’ presence caused serious traffic gridlock.

But in a swift reaction, the Delta State Police Command through the Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of operations, Mr. Undie Adie, said that the presence of the soldiers would collaborate with the Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officers/men including the police to ensure hitch free yelutide, including free flow of traffic ahead of the Christmas/New Year celebrations.

Investigation revealed that miscreants including pick pockets who used to have their field day around the head bridge, have disappeared into the thin air while the road side traders, many of who allegedly sell Indian Hemp to trailer drivers have moved into Asaba town to avoid the wrath of the soldiers who only understand Hausa language and orders from their bosses.

One of their soldiers, Musa Mohammed, who spoke to our reporter said: “Oga we dey here to protect lives and property, we don’t want any miscreants around the head bridge, and will discipline more of the motorists who will not obey us.”.

But a human right activist, Emeka Okonta told our reporter that the soldiers, “stop and search” on major road to the South East was creating hardship for the people even before the Christmas/New year periods. He noted that the gridlock had also brought untold sufferings and waste of several hours, adding that Onitsha head bridge is the only route to the South-East States.

Some motorists who spoke to our reporter, one of them, Joseph Nnamdi, said: “I have been here since two hours waiting to cross the bridge going to Enugu, the soldiers are creating unnecessary tension, they will search and ask  drivers to park for nothing” and called on President Mohammadu Buhari to remove them (military men) from the road to ensure free flow of traffic.
Another driver, Paul Osigwe described the military presence on the major road as an aberration, and called on Federal Government to remove them from the road, “we don’t want any military person on this Express way, they are creating problem for us”.

Unconfirmed sources said that the presence of the military men around the head bridge may not be unconnected with the current threats of the Biafra agitators to bomb the River-Niger head bridge before declaring Biafra State.