The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered the immediate arrest of persons found selling or buying petrol and other petroleum products in plastic containers.
A statement by the police spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, said Mr. Arase gave the directive “to forestall the untold suffering and hazard emanating from the activities of black marketers”.
According to the statement, Mr. Arase ordered the Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, commissioners of the force across the states and that of the FCT command to arrest anybody found selling petroleum products in plastic container.
Mr. Arase issued the directive in Abuja, stressing that fuel products such as petrol, are highly flammable and can seriously endanger people, property and the environment.
“It has also rendered some innocent and law abiding citizens homeless due to fire outbreak from jerry-can petrol storage,” said Mr. Arase.
While warning pump attendants at filling stations to desist from selling petrol inside jerry-cans or any plastic container, Mr. Arase said both the buyers and sellers of the products would be arrested and prosecuted under the law.
Mr. Arase, who assured Nigerians of the police readiness to fulfil their constitutional mandate, appealed for a more cordial relationship between the police and the public.
(Premium Times)