The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has called on the Inspector-General of Police to intervene in the continued close-down of its offices by the Cross River State Police Command, threatening to shut down depots and over 500 petrol stations owned by its members across the state if urgent action is not taken.
Armed policemen have on Saturday morning shutdown IPMAN offices and secretariat located at Esuktang community, around NNPC depot in Calabar, following a protest organised by the IPMAN members to drive home a stop to their continuous harassment by the Nigerian Police officers.
Speaking on the issue, Chairman of IPMAN in Cross River State, Comrade Robert Obi, and the Association Lawyer, Daniel Mgbeh, condemned the action of the police, explaining that Cross River State Police Command is trying to instigate a crisis to close down their office.
Also speaking on the development, Senior Special to Governor Ben Ayade on Petroleum Monitoring, Peter Abang, said with the crisis, the government is interested in an indigene to occupy the prime position of IPMAN State Chairman.
There has been a conflict of interest as to who is the authentic Chairman of IPMAN Calabar Depot which is made up of over 500 members from Benue, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States, comprising members of the eastern zone of the Association.