IN a scene reminiscent of the trappings of the so-called Banana Republic, Oba-Ile, a quiet suburb of the Ondo State capital city of Akure, is currently in a state of fear after soldiers were on Tuesday recruited by a private citizen to assault a rival.
A representative of sharpedgenews.com reporting live from Oba-Ile confirmed that the issue involved an auto body repair technician (panel-beater) known by the nickname Otolo, who had given some car parts to another person, an auto mechanic, to sell on his behalf for N40,000.
The car parts were sold, according to Otolo, but the commission of N20,000 agreed upon the sale was later considered inadequate by the auto mechanic, also known only by his nickname as ‘Small’.
According to Otolo, who was contacted on the phone by sharpedgenews.com to give his account of the situation, Small made away with the entire proceeds of the business transaction.
Otolo thereafter carried out his threat to make Small pay for the alleged fraud by recruiting servicemen in the Nigerian Army to ‘deal with’ Small.
The soldiers have arrived Oba-Ile as of press time, blaring sirens as Small was picked up and beaten-up before they took him away.
Our reporter in Oba-Ile said the soldiers were presently driving recklessly along Fatuase Layout, yelling and making threats at residents whom they say will be equally attacked.
Meanwhile, Small remains a hostage of the soldiers.
According to Otolo whom our reporter on ground spoke with, Small will be taken to the guardroom at the army barracks nearby, where he would be “dealt with.”
Over the years, private citizens have often resorted to recruiting servicemen of the Nigerian Armed Forces, often for a fee, to harass and brutalize fellow citizens with whom they disagree, often at the risk of serious physical injuries or death to the victims.
An Oba-Ile resident, who wishes not to be identified for fear of threats to his personal safety, told sharpedgenews.com that the defense minister and the chief of defense staff, among other officials in charge of Nigeria’s armed forces, need to embark on sensitizing armed services personnel on their statuary roles in the polity, as opposed to making themselves available for recruiting to settle petty scores between people.