By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie

OWERRI—Motorists and commuters were yesterday stranded in Imo State, following the closure of all sales outlets of major and independent petroleum marketers by their operators.

Our correspondents that monitored the development in some local council areas of the state,noticed that besidewhile over 200 vehicles and several motorcycles clustered around two filling stations that were dispensing premium motor spirit, PMS, in Aboh Mbaise, every other outlet shut their gates against motorists.

A female pump attendant in one of the filling stations along Owerri-Port Harcourt federal highway, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, explained that they were on strict instruction to shut down.

“We were instructed by our boss to shut the pumps. There is a fear that a task force may descend on us if we defy the order to stop sales,” she explained.