…..Urges National Body To Call Factional Leader To Order
Ben Dunno, Warri
A group, Warri Urban Security Network (WUSN), has expressed concern over the latest violence dimension to the leadership crisis rocking Delta state branch of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and urged the national body to direct all those opposed to latest Caretaker Committee list released for next three (3) months to comply with the directives.
It would be recalled that both IPMAN national President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, and Secretary Hon. James Terlumun Tor, have duly recognized Olorogun Ese Kakor, as Caretaker Committee Chairman in a letter dated April 16, 2024, and directed that he oversees affairs for the next three (3) months depending the conduct of a fresh election where democratically elected Executive would emerged.
The same national body had also in another letter dated April 24, 2024, and addressed to Olorogun Ese Kakor, the Chairman Caretaker Committee, directed that he works harmoniously with the Management Committee Chairman, Mr. Harry Okenini, for proper efficiency at the Warri Depot ahead of the proposed election of the body.
However, hell was let loose at the Warri depot yesterday when factional members loyal to Harry Okenini, threw caution to the wing and engaged some Ekpan community youths to unleash terror on some perceived loyalists of Olorogun Ese Kakor, who came with him to attend the crucial meeting summoned by the leaders of the body in the state.
While some of them were pushed out of IPMAN yard, others were beaten thoroughly, others had their heads broken with bottles, some got deep cuts by being stabbed and one of the Marketers who was identified as Olorogun Kakor’’ loyalists was reported to have been whisked away to an unknown destination and his whereabouts unknown as at the time of filing this report.
In a swift response to the violence incident today, Warri Urban Security Network (WUSN) in a statement signed by Chief Frank Onoriode and Barrister Dafe Okpako, Chairman and Secretary respectively, appealed to the national body to as a matter of urgency call the loyalists of Mr. Harry Okenini, to order in the interest of peace.
According to the statement; “We have repeatedly warn against anything that could lead to breakdown of law and order at the depot because we have been around long enough to know the degree of tension that usually occurred the depot and how it gradually spread to neighboring towns and cities where some of these principal actors resides”.
“We are equally mindful of the economic importance attached to the Warri depot and how it affects the lives of residents when it comes to the supply of petroleum products and that’s why we take the issue of Warri depot seriously because it usually impacts on our lives either directly or indirectly “.
“Consequently, we want to appeal to the IPMAN national body to as a matter of urgency call all the actors, especially the loyalists of Mr. Harry Okenini, to order before the situation at the Warri depot gets out of hand”.
When contacted the Warri Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mohammed Bashir, said the police was already on top of the situation and all the parties involved are being asked to report to his office.