Nigeria, Aug. 7 -- The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Akwa Ibom State has announced a withdrawal of services in the state, beginning Thursday, over a dispute with the Joint Task Force (JTF).

In a statement signed by the union chairperson, Francis Udoyen, and secretary, Ekom Idemudo, the group stated that their action was in line with the resolution made at their meeting last month.

According to the group, the decision to withdraw services came after a recent strike by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, a branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Workers of Nigeria (PTD-NUPEND), "over some unresolved issues affecting our members' seized/burnt trucks by operatives of JTF" in the state.

The group ...