It is disappointing and indeed distressing making life unbearable through unending road blocks by soldiers in Warri and environs. The roads mostly affected are Osubi, Agbarho, Oviorie junction, Orerokpe junction and Ughelli where soldiers mount road blocks with drums and make the existing narrow roads to become one lane. The soldiers just sit and check nothing and causing incessant hold-ups as a result of non-movement of vehicles.
At Osubi, motorists do spend over three hours before escaping from the stern-looking soldiers who I think and believe can successfully fight and conquer the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East of the nation.
Obviously, what we are now seeing in Warri, Effurun and environs on the highways is embarrassing and unorganised with the way and manner soldiers cause hold-ups for hours.
As a result, pupils, students, workers, businessmen and women arrive at schools, offices and business places late and very many miss their flights and other businesses that would bring development to the state. What a dangerous dichotomy indeed! Who gave them the right to make motorists and other road users suffer on these highways? This is not good. They should be called to order. For many motorists and other road users to remain on a spot for over three hours is uncalled for and whoever made them to be there should arrange for their removal or add decency to the way and manner they conduct their assignment.
We appreciate the way and manner the police park their vehicles in strategic places in the towns and highways and remain vigilant and coordinated, thanks to the Inspector General (IG) for the new style, not for irrelevant checks, but to monitor very closely passers-by and motorists, no mounting of drums, woods, sand, etc.
It is not so even in our neighbouring states like Edo, Bayelsa, Anambra. Alternatively, they should be educated on how to mount road-blocks; but not causing confusion or suffering to the poor masses to remain on one spot for several hours.
May I, therefore, appeal to the Commanding Officer (CO) of the Effurun barracks, the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) as well as the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel EwetaUduaghan to address this burning issue expeditiously in order to ameliorate the sufferings of the motorists and other road users, for a stitch in time saves nine.
Okute Emmanuel Okute,
Warri, Delta state
