BENIN CITY – What would have been an heavy fracas between some men of The Nigerian Army and agencies of Edo state government at the Oba Ovoramwen square was yesterday averted in Benin city.
The agencies which are Public Works Volunteer (PUWOV) and Edo State Traffic Management Agencies (EDSTMA), blocked the road leading to Emotan Shrine, while directing motorists to use alternative routes.
The reason for the roadblock was said to be occasioned by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare ll scheduled sacred traditional rites billed to be perform yesterday (Wednesday) at the Emotan shrine, opposite the popular Oba market in the Edo state capital.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a PUWOV official told The Nigerian Observer that while other motorists obeyed the temporary road closure and were diverting, the Army refused to divert and insisted it must go through the barricaded road.
“They (Army) do not want to take simple instructions. Others are obeying us and diverting, but the Army say they must pass and were insulting us, asking why we blocked the road.
“Even when we told them it was because of our King (Oba) that was going to the Emotan shrine to do something, one of them was asking, who is our king? that we had to block the road because of him”, the PUWOV official narrated.
Contacted, the public relations officer, 4 Bigrade Nigerian Army, Captain Maidawa said the Army is working in synergy with sister security as well as other agencies of government in the state to ensure law and order and not fight amongst themselves.
“We have a good raport with EDSTMA and our soldiers have been warned not to interfere in their work and they are abiding by that. Any soldier you see doing that, is not from 4 Brigade because our commander has zero tolerance for unprofessional conduct.
“With the setting up of ‘operation checkmate’ that is going round the town. Soldiers of 4 Brigade Nigeria Army will never do that, I assure”, Capt Maidawa said via telephone.
