The ongoing battle between members of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Kwara State over price regulation of petroleum products took a shocking dimension in Ilorin on Wednesday when members of IPMAN reopened all filling stations sealed by the men of the DPR.

It was gathered that the activities of the IPMAN members in Ilorin took place in the presence of security operatives that accompanied the DPR officials.

Tribune reports that officials of DPR, led by the Controller, Mr. Salvation Phillip, in four hilux jeep and two private cars, were reportedly escorted by security personnel in two jeep during the price regulation monitoring exercise.

The IPMAN on the other hand were said to be in their chairman's official jeep, lPMAN Hummer bus, IMB bus and some members'personal cars numbering about 10.

It was also gathered that while the DPR officials sealed some stations, the IPMAN members, led by its chairman, Alhaji Okanlawon Olanrewaju, unsealed them immediately in the presence of the DPR staff and security officers.

The independent petroleum marketers said that most of the stations sold at N86.50 per litre because they loaded at NNPC depots either Mosimi or Lagos, while those that got their products from private depots sold between N110/N120 per litre.