The wrangling between the Independent Petroleum Marketers (IPMAN) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Ilorin appeared to be getting worse as efforts by DPR to seal two petroleum stations for hoarding fuel were scuttled by members of IPMAN.

During their monitoring exercise, the DPR officials directed the selling of fuel to motorists after uncovering at least 2,000 litres of fuel in the tank of Super Moon station at Offa garage.

The monitoring team also inspected the underground tank in another filling station in the same area where they discovered at least 10,000 litres of fuel.

While still pondering and discussing on the next line of action, some IPMAN members who had been trailing the convoy of the DPR team zoomed into the station and arguments ensued over the rights or otherwise of the DPR to seal the station.

The IPMAN members led by the State Chairman, Okanlawon Olarewaju, threatened to remove the seal on the stations immediately after the departure of the team, wondering why the DPR had made things difficult for them in the last seven months.

They questioned why they were being compelled to sell the products at the recommended prices after buying from private depots at higher rates.

The oil marketers also accused the DPR boss of being too rigid, claiming that he had refused to discuss the problems with them.

In his reaction, the Operations Controller of DPR in Kwara State, Phillips Salvation, vowed not to allow the marketers to cheat the public, stressing that the Federal Government is presently importing fuel and it cannot be sold at higher price.

He insisted that those who disturbed or prevented the body from performing its responsibility would answer to the security forces whom he said witnessed the incident.