Police take over as military withdraws from checkpoints in Ondo

Policemen are currently manning checkpoints where soldiers were in Ondo State.

This followed the withdrawal of troops for a yet to be known reason.

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Although the military authorities have not given any reason for the withdrawal of soldiers from major highways, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the military withdrew as a result of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s refusal to pay some allowances, the government has debunked the allegation.

In a statement signed by the state commissioner for information and orientation, Mr Donald Ojogo, the government accused the PDP of playing politics with the safety and welfare of the people.

“The Ondo State Government desires not to go into the merits of the flying story about non-payment of allowances to any arm of the military. It deserves no such efforts more so, that, the concerned arm of the military has yet to issue any statement in that regards,” the statement read.

Spokesperson for the state Police command, Funmi Odunlami, said policemen have been deployed across the state.

She said “After what happened, we have deployed our men to those axis because people have been apprehensive of probable breach of security in those areas and that is why we have to act now to allay fears of residents and motorists.”

She urged commuters and motorists to go about lawful businesses and report any extortion by any police officers to the command.

Meanwhile the Nigerian Army has kept mum over the matter as all efforts to get the spokesman of the 32: Artillery Brigade Akin Omojokun to comment on the matter proved abortive.