Fierce military men of “Operation Python Dance” recently launched by the Nigerian Army in the South East, on Thursday, combed the surroundings of the River Niger Head Bridge in Asaba, Delta State, leaving motorists in fear of the unknown while they disciplined those who refused to take orders.

The soldiers heavily armed, descended on motorists who failed to obey their rules of “Stop and Search” before moving as some of them regarded as deviant drivers were put on frog jump for several minutes before they were let off the hook.

Expectedly, the soldiers’ presence caused serious traffic gridlock with commercial motorists/ passengers, including privately owned vehicles traveling to the Eastern states forced to queue for long.

But the Delta State Police Command in a swift reaction through the Deputy Police Commissioner in-charge of Operations, Mr. Undie Adie, allayed fears of the unknown, saying that the presence of the soldiers would collaborate with the personnel of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), including the police, to ensure free flow of traffic and crime free period ahead of the Christmas/ New Year celebrations

His words: “There is no cause for alarm, we the police will collaborate with FRSC, the military to ensure hitch free crimes, and free flow of traffic ahead of the Christmas/New Year seasons.” Investigation revealed that miscreants, including pick pockets who used to have their field days of activities around the head bridge have disappeared into the thin air while the road-side traders, many of who allegedly sell Indian hemp to trailer drivers, have moved into Asaba town to avoid the wrath of the soldiers, who only understand Hausa language and orders from their bosses. One of the soldiers, Musa Mohammed, who spoke to our reporter, said: “Oga we dey here to protect lives and property, we don’t want any miscreants around the head bridge, and we will discipline more of the motorists who will not obey us.”

But a human right activist, Emeka Okonta, told our reporter that the soldiers “stop and search” on major road to the South East was creating hardship for the people even before the Christmas/ New Year periods. He noted that the gridlock has also brought untold sufferings and waste of several hours, adding that Onitsha Head Bridge is the only route to the South East states.

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