Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Anti-Petroleum Crime Committee, South-South zone, Prince John Okorosa, has said some people are after him because of the war he is waging against illegal oil and gas business in the region.
Okorosa said some men in an unmarked Toyota Hilux van twice visited his residence in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, last week.
“The strange visitors on ascertaining that I was not at home reversed and left the place,” he said. “It is no surprise that the criminals, who have been at the receiving end from the Anti-Petroleum Crime team in the region, are fighting back. My life and that of my family are in danger. They are saboteurs of our economy and would do everything to stop the fight against their criminal activities, especially in the creeks.”
Prince Okorosa, who appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, for protection, declared that he will not be deterred by the antics and threat of the petroleum thieves in the region.
“We have a responsibility to stop crime and criminalities in the oil and gas sector of the economy. This is a case of crime fighting back and there is no stopping us,” he said.
Okorosa further raised the alarm over plans by some persons to cause crisis in the leadership of IPMAN.
He said the objective of the group was to destabilise the operation of the team and factionalise the body, warning the public to be wary of persons parading themselves as members of IPMAN as he remains the only recognised leader in the region.