02 September 2013, Benin – Strong indication emerged in Benin-City, capital of Edo State, that the distribution of petroleum products to consumers living in Edo and Delta States might be halted completely, following the shutdown of distribution by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, over alleged threat to lives and forceful occupation of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Warri branch offices, Delta State, by suspected hoodlums.
It was, however, gathered that the renew crisis might not be unconnected with the victory of Mr. Benjamin Ifeta, as the Warri chairman of IPMAN, recently in Benin City.
This is coming just as the NUPENG national body which waded into the crisis in a petition dated August 30, to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Hashimu Argungu, and made available to journalists in Benin-City, over the weekend, had asked the police authority to properly investigate the alleged forgery, impersonation, threat to lives and abuse of police escort to intimidate and harass IPMAN/NUPENG members in Warri.
The petition, which was signed by the National Secretary of IPMAN/NUPENG, Mr. Chidi Nwosu, read in parts: “We write to bring to your notice the criminal activities of Hon. Henry Baro and Hon. Bright Edejewho, who forged and impersonated our national secretariat and conducted an illegal election in a hotel where they forged our letter headed paper and signature of the national officers.
“They use thugs to threaten the lives of our members and break into our union office in Ekpan which house our guest house where they looted goods worth over N1.1 million. We urge you to use your good office to save our lives and property of our union and also bring these people to book so that our members can resume their normal day to day lives as enshrine in the constitution of Nigeria.”
– Adibe Emenyonu, This Day