“This will stop our services to members of the public in Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi from Sept. 17 until the police illegality is reversed”
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nugeria (IPMAN) has ordered its members to revoke their services from the loading depot of the Enugu-based Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
In a statement on Thursday in Enugu, IPMAN President Alhaji Sanusi Fari said this was a response to a suspected attack and invasion by Nigerian Police Force members of the IPMAN Secretariat at Enugu depot on Thursday (NPF).
The President stated that the attack and invasion were conducted with impunity and against a court order that remained in place.
“Sequel to this ugly development, the National Executive Committee of IPMAN has resolved and directed the withdrawal of our services at Enugu loading depot with immediate effect.
“This will stop our services to members of the public in Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi from Sept. 17 until the police illegality is reversed,” Fari said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Enugu Command, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, denied that operatives of the command blockaded or attacked the IPMAN secretariat in Enugu.
Rather, Ndukwe said that detectives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Abuja, were on an investigation trip to the IPMAN office to serve the association’s members’ invitation over a court matter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the South-East had been grappling with an acute shortage of petroleum products, following a strike by petroleum tanker drivers in the area.
The situation had increased the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the area as a litre currently sells between N250 and N300 in most petrol stations.
SOURCE: freshreporters.com