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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatened to shut down all filling stations across the country over the alleged illegal invasion of its national secretariat by the Nigeria Police.

Some men of the Nigeria Police Force were alleged to have invaded IPMAN National Secretariat last Friday, according to a report. Suleiman described the invasion as an illegal clampdown sponsored by some impostors parading themselves as executives of IPMAN.

IPMAN threatened to cut down supplies from tomorrow if the federal government and Inspector General of Police fail to address alleged illegalities perpetrated by the police .

The National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Mr Yakubu Suleiman, made this disclosure on Sunday during an interaction with journalists in Jos.

He said, “Whereas there is subsisting Supreme Court judgment of December 2018, that has since disposed of a suit No. SC15/2015, and ordered that Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, is our President and Alhaji Danladi Garba Pasali, as National secretary.

“The continued violation of this judgment, even by the police is causing more harm to the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, which if such is not halted will lead to impunity and anarchy.’’

Citing a similar police siege which led to the closure of Suleja depot last week, he claimed that the incident would have disrupted petroleum products supplies to Abuja and northern states but for the intervention of the National Secretariat.

Suleiman said: “It is true that members of IPMAN in many states across sections of Nigeria, have met and others are meeting and communicating to us that they will shut down, from Tuesday. The implications would be there will be a shortage or fuel scarcity in the country.’’

The IPMAN PRO called on the Chief Justice of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC, the National Assembly and Inspector General of Police to intervene in the crisis in order to protect laid down rule of law.

He concluded: “We are calling on all arms of government including the security agencies to take the necessary action, towards halting impunity in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.’’