Members of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria Petroleum (IPMAN) and NUPENG in Oyo and Osun states on Monday suspended the indefinite industrial action it began over alleged police harassment and extortion.
The decision was contained in a statement jointly signed by the IPMAN Chairman covering Oyo, Osun States and environs, Alhaji Mutiu Bukola and the Chairman, Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of NUPENG, Alhaji Hammed Hamzat, Chairman, Independent Marketers branch of NUPENG, Mr Surajudeen Adegoke and IPMAN, Vice-Chairman, Alhaji Olalekan Lawal and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Sunday evening.
They appreciated stakeholders including the zonal leaders and the Commissioner of police in Osun and Oyo States, who waded into the matter and who ensured that the driver and the truck illegally detained were released.
The statement reads: “We had the intervention of stakeholders from PTD, IMB and IPMAN from the western zone on the issues we raised and 70 per cent of our demands had been granted.
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“And also, the Osun State Commissioner of Police has invited the association for a roundtable meeting on Monday, 15th July, 2024 by 11am to resolve other issues bordering on harassment and extortion.
“We are suspending the strike to allow for dialogue and resolution on the issues of victimisation, harassment and extortion we raised concerning IGP monitoring team of the Nigerian Police Force,” the communique read in part.
“The suspension was to allow for time to create better understanding and better working with the Nigerian Police Force. The outcome of the meeting will be communicated to the press for onward dissemination to the general public.”
The associations also appreciated the Osun State government, well meaning stakeholders in the industry including the zonal councils of PTD, IMB and IPMAN as well as its members from the three unions for their cooperation.
It maintained that the unions do not want the IGP monitoring team on the highway but that the team should face it mandate of ensuring no vandalisation and bunkering of petroleum products in areas where they are cited.
Recalled that the three unions on Saturday declared an indefinite strike and demanded the immediate release of a driver and a truck illegally detained by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) monitoring team at Gbongan Police station, Gbongan, Osun State.
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