Fresh Panic In Abeokuta As Soldiers Are Deployed To Streets

Fear and panic has gripped residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State, following the deployment of armed soldiers in the streets to maintain law and order, ostensibly at the request of the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

The residents who are fresh from almost a whole week of assaults by protesters and hoodlums, are expressing fears as to what is likely to unfold in the new week.

The surprise of the residents is more heightened given the previous assurance of the Federal Government that it is only the Chief of Army Staff that is officially empowered to order the deployment of soldiers to any part of the country.

However, sources have explained that the battle-ready military men who are seen in squads comprising 10 soldiers in about six major flashpoints, are actually targeted at safeguarding warehouses where palliatives are kept.

Such warehouses are located in Mitros Rice Premises at Asero, and other areas as Onikolobo, Imo and oke-Ilewo.

It was learnt that a squad each of the soldiers have mounted roadblocks in the roads leading to all the warehouses.

For instance, the soldiers have already blocked completely the entrance into Asero Estate main gate while they also maintained a roadblock at the spot on the road leading to Obantoko.

But the military truck which conveyed the soldiers can be visibly seen right inside the Mitros Rice complex, opposite Asero main gate.

The soldiers were said to have been hurriedly drafted on the orders of Governor Abiodun, following reports that hundreds of hoodlums and hungry residents went about besieging the warehouses in search of palliatives.

Such items kept as palliatives includes several bags of rice, thousand cartons of Noodles, beans and different shades of seasonings.

Rice Pyramids at the Mitros Rice Complex, Asero, where hoodlums invaded in search of palliatives

The hoodlums, it was learnt, were at the verge of breaking into the large Mitros Rice Warehouse when the soldiers arrived, following which the hoodlums disappeared into thin air.

Contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Kunle Somorin, was not immediately available for comments.

However, an official at the state Ministry of Special Duties, said distribution of palliatives have been regularly carried out by the Administration.

The official dispelled the rumour going round in the public space that palliative items are being hoarded, saying there is no iota of truth in those rumours.