OBUDU RESIDENTS LAMENT OVER MALTREATMENTS FROM ARMY OFFICERS

Residents in Obudu are lamenting over their maltreatment in the hands of army officers that have been in the area for the past two months. The army officers were redeploy to the area by the state Governor Prof Ben Ayade following cases of cult clashes, kidnappings, armed robbery, community clashes and other social vices.

The arrival of these Army officer was a sign of relief to Obudu residents as they brought and foster discipline in the area. Boys with bushy hairs and beards were compel to cut it, late night movements was disallowed except those on special duty. Cases of Robbery both at midnight and broad day light were a bygone. Ayade and the army were praised for their good work.

Little did the residents knew all those praises will become abuses or cries cause by those vested with the power to protect us from crying. Many of the resident especially road users have had a bad ordeal in the hands of those non smiling soldiers with road blocks or check points at Ranch Road, Hospital Road leading to Benue State and Ogoja Road of the Area.

The residents are now been compel to pay hundred naira and those that dare question the order face frog jumps or rigorous punishment.

One young man who narrated his ordeal and refused to disclose his identity for fear of further punishment said "its unbecoming in the area, we were at rest that Soldiers have come to protect us but now we are in fear ,they now contribute to our fears. I was driving through the Ranch Road ,they stopped me and didn't even ask for my particulars but demanded for money. I questioned them,they ordered me out of the vehicle ask me to do frog jumps, i hesitated but one of them used a koboko on me and pushed me with their trained tactics to the ground,I lay on the ground with the other three men and a girl who were equally been punished . After two good hours under the Sun,i was set free, i couldn't drive myself home,someone assisted me . I spent about five thousand Naira,money that's now so scarce to treat myself. I am begging with the state government for intervention to get these wild dogs out of Obudu."

Rumors also has it young girls in the area have become sex toil to the army who frightened and threaten any girl that says No. Most of the girls offer themselves freely to the Soldiers at night contributing to distract them from working.

A young man who introduced himself as Oscar said "the activities of these army men now is a death wish, they mean us death than life. No one is happy with them any longer, they have no respect for the law nor us,they are outlaw. I am an okada rider , I took a passenger to Ranch Road on my way back they asked for money,i gave them fifty Naira, they kicked me like Ronaldo will kicked a ball into the net when frustrated . I was on the ground and my machine on top of me, they gave me the fifty naira to chew, hit and force opened my mouth ,i was bleeding. passersby watched sorrowfully, no one can say stop else they start with that person. The authority should please come to our help, we are not free and safe."

Other people also shared their ordeal in the hands of the army in the area expressed enough is enough of the maltreatment. It is indeed wise for the State Government and concern authority to rescue the situation else it will get to a stage there will be counter attack from all these angered and wounded residents who don't have the resources or boldness to file a case against them.

A market woman who gave advise on the situation said "I have heard of the happenings, i even witnessed two brutal handling but as long as i must rebuke all those corporal punishment i shall keep blaming ourselves for giving them such opportunity. It is our choices to involved in cultism, arm robbery, kidnappings etc that brought these Soldiers to Obudu. They are acting on the information and Intelligence gathered about Obudu but that's not worth any reason for beating up residents, not every one is a cultist or arm robbers. I also plead for full cooperation for those soldiers, keep away the resilience attitudes, i passed their check points daily but haven't been beaten because i respect them and myself. Accept it or not Their presence have actually restored peace in Obudu, anyone saying they should go are those whose notorious ways have been blocked by their presence."

Enlightened elites have called on the residents to report any assault to the the ruling authority or army office in Ogoja with evidence . They have pleaded with the army in the area to be civil while dealing with the residents and avoid all forms of abusing the power vested on them .

MY NAME IS ZEDICUS PIRO AND YOU KNOW SAY WORDS NO BE PROBLEM