Fuel scarcity is currently looming in the Eastern region as members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have threatened to withdraw their services from the Zone.

IPMAN noted that the union is ready to withdraw its services from the area if what is described as harassment and intimidation from the Security Agencies continues without check from the Federal Government.

Eastern Zonal Chairman Prince Bobby Eberechi Dick, who made these declarations on Friday in a statement alleged that some miscreants are intimidating members of the union.

Dick stated that the miscreants went ahead to secure the services of Security Agencies to harass and intimate members of the Association and the case was reported to the Zonal Executive Council of the Eastern zone.

The Chairman noted that an investigation was carried out to know where they were deriving their powers from and on what bases but it was discovered that those who were intimidating members of the union had secured the service of Security Agencies.

IPMAN has insisted that if the harassment, intimidation and blockage of the depots continue, members of the union will withdraw their services from the entire zone as the members of the association are guided by the constitution of IPMAN and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigerian (IPMAN) Eastern Zone wishes to draw the attention of the federal government to the incessant harassment and intimidation of our members by security agencies.’’

“A few days ago some miscreants who are not members of our association, who do not have even one filling station went and secured the services of the Nigerian Police, the Army, and the Civil Defence to block the gate of private depots where we load petroleum products in Rivers State, saying every IPMAN member must pay a levy of fifteen thousand naira (N15000) before our members can load.

“When the report got to the zonal executive council of the Eastern zone, an investigation was carried out to know where they are deriving their powers from and on what basis, we found out it was an act of intimidation to force our members to do the wish of their paymasters.

“If this harassment, intimidation and blockage of the depots where we are doing our legitimate business by these hoodlums and hired security agents are not addressed, we will have no other choice than to shut down all stations within Eastern Zone.