Soldiers clear refuse in Owerri markets

By CHIDI NKWOPARA
The much-touted civil-military relations played out in Owerri, Imo State, weekend as about a platoon of soldiers from the 34 Field Artillery Brigade, Obinze, moved into World Bank Market, Douglas Road and Relief Market, all in Owerri municipality, to clear the mountain of refuse in the areas.

Although none of the soldiers agreed to speak when Vanguard tried to find out why they left their barracks to clean the city of filth, one of them, however, retorted: “Are you happy about the growing mountain of refuse in the once clean city?”

The soldiers also refused to say if they were cleaning the city to mark any of their events but residents of the municipality commended the soldiers for “helping to reduce the chances of an outbreak of epidemics in the town.”

Mr. Sunny Okotu reacted this way: “We are very happy over the beautiful act exhibited by the soldiers. If for no other thing, they reminded the government that Owerri must remain clean. We cannot afford to fall back to our previous dirty habit.”

A woman, who simply identified herself as Mama Ngozi, reasoned that “such acts will help to build friendship between the soldiers and civilians in Imo State.”

She added that the soldiers had proved that they also cared.

All effort made to get the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Chinedu Offor, to speak on the pleasant development failed as his line could not e reached at press time.

Source: Vanguard