Nigeria Content Online

Regular supply of
petroleum products to Edo State has been threatened, as the tanker
drivers association, Benin Depot branch, yesterday embarked on an
indefinite strike that they intend to continue until the chairman of
the task force committee on pipeline vandalism, Osakpanmwan Eriyo, is
removed.

The tanker drivers
accused Mr Eriyo of extortion and incessantly harassing, arresting and
detaining members of their association without valid reasons.

They also vowed not
to lift any petroleum products at the Benin depot until they meet with
Adams Oshiomhole, the state governor, and ensure the removal of the
committee chairman.

As at the time of
going to press, Chairman of the tanker drivers union, Godwin Asemota,
and his team were said to be in a closed door meeting with government
officials on the matter.

One of the tanker
drivers, who simply gave his name as Charles, alleged that Mr Eriyo and
his men have been a thorn in their flesh since their appointments.

Neglect of duty

He said that the
task force has abandoned its primary assignment of protecting petroleum
pipelines for harassing and molesting their members, in collaboration
with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Evbotubu Police Station,
where their trucks are always detained and not always released until
they part with as much as N200, 000 and above.

Mr Eriyo, however, described the allegations of the tanker drivers as mischievous and untrue.

He said that the
drivers have on several occasions tried to lure him into conniving with
them to move products from vandalized pipes to the market. He tendered
several waybills of arrested drivers who altered documents of other
trucks to move their products.

“They get waybills
from other marketers, alter it to suit their own vehicles. Do you blame
me for arresting them for the police to do their work of investigation
to ascertain whether it is a product vandalized pipe or not? You don’t
expect me to honour such waybills.”

Mr Eriyo, who confirmed that over 20 persons have been arrested for
their involvement in pipeline vandalism, and about 10 vehicles
impounded, reaffirmed his committee’s resolve to tackle pipeline
vandalism to the logical end.