Vandalism: IPMAN threatens strike on Monday.
Socio-economic activities may be disrupted in Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Niger states, owing to a looming fuel scarcity, as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, has threatened to go on strike from Monday.
Speaking during a media conference on Saturday, Chairman, IPMAN, Ilorin unit, Agbolade Bolaji, said the strike was in protest against the ‘‘unjustifiable release of some pipeline vandalism suspects.’’
The Ilorin depot supplies petroleum products to Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Niger states.
Bolaji alleged that it was unfair that they would help law enforcement agencies apprehend suspected pipeline vandals, only for them to be released without being punished for their alleged crimes.
He said pipeline vandalism was an economic sabotage which affected the federal, state and local governments as well as corporate organisations and individuals.
He added that pipeline vandalism had led to fire outbreaks in some communities which resulted in the deaths of many innocent people as well as destruction of farmlands and other property.
He also said the crime negatively affected IPMAN members because their lives were in danger.
According to him, the life of a member of the association, who testified against some of the vandals at the court, is being threatened and the man had to run for his life.
Bolaji said, “We want to tell the general public that as from Monday, February 13, we will likely withdraw our services; those at Ilorin depot will be stopped from selling fuel to any filling station. This is because the pipeline vandals whom we helped to arrest have been released. It appears that security operatives and the judiciary are not treating these cases as they should.
“About two years ago, five people were sentenced at a Federal High Court to jail for five years but after two weeks, another court released them. The court also ordered that their trucks should be released to them.
‘‘The vandals came back and threatened our people. We, at IPMAN, are the ones maintaining the line from Ibadan to Ilorin. We spend about N5m every month. We have spent about N70m on this land in one year. We cannot continue like this. When we assist government to arrest vandals and they are being released, we cannot continue any more. We will withdraw our services.
“On January 15, we arrested four of the vandals again but they have been released.
Speaking during a media conference on Saturday, Chairman, IPMAN, Ilorin unit, Agbolade Bolaji, said the strike was in protest against the ‘‘unjustifiable release of some pipeline vandalism suspects.’’
The Ilorin depot supplies petroleum products to Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Niger states.
Bolaji alleged that it was unfair that they would help law enforcement agencies apprehend suspected pipeline vandals, only for them to be released without being punished for their alleged crimes.
He said pipeline vandalism was an economic sabotage which affected the federal, state and local governments as well as corporate organisations and individuals.
He added that pipeline vandalism had led to fire outbreaks in some communities which resulted in the deaths of many innocent people as well as destruction of farmlands and other property.
He also said the crime negatively affected IPMAN members because their lives were in danger.
According to him, the life of a member of the association, who testified against some of the vandals at the court, is being threatened and the man had to run for his life.
Bolaji said, “We want to tell the general public that as from Monday, February 13, we will likely withdraw our services; those at Ilorin depot will be stopped from selling fuel to any filling station. This is because the pipeline vandals whom we helped to arrest have been released. It appears that security operatives and the judiciary are not treating these cases as they should.
“About two years ago, five people were sentenced at a Federal High Court to jail for five years but after two weeks, another court released them. The court also ordered that their trucks should be released to them.
‘‘The vandals came back and threatened our people. We, at IPMAN, are the ones maintaining the line from Ibadan to Ilorin. We spend about N5m every month. We have spent about N70m on this land in one year. We cannot continue like this. When we assist government to arrest vandals and they are being released, we cannot continue any more. We will withdraw our services.
“On January 15, we arrested four of the vandals again but they have been released.
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