Soldiers Attached To Abia State Outfit, ‘Operation Crush’ Accuse Governor Otti Of Owing Monthly Allowances

Soldiers from the Nigerian Army assigned to the Abia State special security operation known as "Operation Crush" have asserted that they have not received their allowances for the past two months.

Operation Crush, a joint task force of police, army, navy and other relevant security agencies was launched by Governor Alex Otti in August.

While inaugurating the project in Umuahia with 20 Hilux vans, the governor had said the operation would pay special attention to areas currently brimming with killings, kidnappings, banditry, arson and all forms of social vices.

“We shall no longer share an inch with the criminals. The joint security task force that makes up the operation crush is expected to dislodge criminals from their hideouts,” he had said.

“The outfit will also go after those that harbour criminals, be they traditional rulers, politicians, individuals who may be in the business of orchestrating insecurity in the state.

“Huge resources have been expended on this project because the lives of Abians are paramount at this time.

“It is only when we have a crisis-free environment that we will be able to tackle the issue of unemployment because no society thrives in an unsafe environment.”

SaharaReporters however, gathered that soldiers assigned to the operation, have not been paid allowances for at least two months by the state government.

Attempts to complain have been met with threats by the army authorities, the aggrieved soldiers said.

“For two months, our monthly allowance has not been paid. This has affected us adversely. We can no longer meet up with our responsibilities at home.

“We are pleading with Governor Otti-led state government to pay our allowance till date,” a soldier attached to the operation told SaharaReporters.