Akeredolu, PDP trade blames over withdrawal of soldiers from checkpoints

Soldiers from the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army dispatched to man checkpoints in Ondo State, especially at the interstate boundaries, have abandoned the checkpoints. 

Although no explanation has been offered for the decision by the army authorities, this has led to an exchange of words between the state government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

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In a statement, the state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, said the withdrawal of the soldiers was due to the refusal of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to pay allowances due to them.

Mr Peretei said, “In the last one year, 11 traditional rulers have been kidnapped, while one first-class oba, the Oluifon of Ifon, was murdered in cold blood by gunmen.”

But the Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, in a statement yesterday, said the state government would not comment on the allegations since the military had yet to issue any statement in that regard.