By Cajetan Mmuta
Revelations have emerged on how hoodlums invaded the Secretariat Complex of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Enugu Depot Unit under the guise of enforcing a Supreme Court justice.
Chairman of Enugu Depot Unit of IPMAN, Comrade Chinedu Anyaso, said the masterminds had led no fewer than 30 thugs under the protection of the Police to illegally break in and plunder the Secretariat.
Speaking to newsmen on the incident Anyaso said, “I wish to sincerely thank all Enugu Marketers and the entire Depot Community for their support, solidarity, and show of love since the destruction, looting, and illegal entry into our Secretariat masterminded by an individual.”
He said, “The Policemen came in with one a Tout and a Charlatan in Onitsha who claimed to be IPMAN Chairman Anambra State. While in a meeting with my members, I was informed that Aguiyi in conjunction with the Sunny Big man brought in thugs with policemen and broke into our offices, carted away properties, money, and documents.”
It would be recalled that IPMAN had declared a one-day strike on Friday to protest what it called invasion and attack of its Secretariat by the Police against a subsisting court order.
Anyaso explained that “The most wicked of it all is the burning of Marketers files and office documents which we worked very hard to create. Since then the hoodlums have been occupying our Secretariat.”
He said though the Police had denied any involvement in the lawlessness, video clips released by the culprits had proved that they participated actively in the incident.
“We informed our National President Engr Sanusi Fari of the development who in turn contacted the Force Headquarters which denied any involvement.
“The Police claimed they only came to serve a letter of invitation, but videos and pictures shared by Aguiyi himself shows otherwise, that was why our National President to call for the one-day warning strike,” he said
Recalling how the crisis started, Anyaso said he had gone to deliver a letter at the Police Command in Enugu on Sept. 15 when the CP told him that some policemen from Abuja came in the company of some IPMAN members to serve him and his members a letter of invitation to Force Headquarters Abuja for enforcement of the Supreme Court judgment.
He further states that rather than wait for them to respond on a date to honor the invitation, the Police and hoodlums invaded the office and looted it the following day is Thursday, Sept. 16.
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“I explained to him that the Enugu Depot Unit conducted its elections of which our term is still running and that if actually, Chinedu Okoronkwo won an election as national President of IPMAN which he did not win, he should go to Abuja and fight for his seat.
‘Somebody who claimed he won the presidency of Nigeria cannot leave the person occupying the presidential seat and be fighting with state governors.
He added that he would deploy every legal and legitimate means to protect the mandate which was given freely and massively to him and his executive members by his members.
He urged members of the body to remain calm as the illegality would not stand.
