TANK FARM BLAST: DPR official accuses MRS security of assault

An official of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) claims security operatives of MRS Oil and Gas Company allegedly attacked and severely manhandled him for taking shots with his camera during the explosion that rocked the oil company’s storage facility last week.
The victim (name withheld) had reported to DPR’s Director, Mr. Osten Olorunisola, that he was mercilessly beaten up by the security operatives engaged by the company for carrying out his official duty.
Expressing shock at the way one of his officers was man-handled, Olorunisola apologised to to the victim and promised that the matter would be investigated.

“I was called a thief and a tout and all sorts before the security officials of MRS then came to manhandle me and beat me up seriously,” the victim lamented.
An MRS official, who volunteered an explanation, said that the DPR staff was allegedly sighted taking photographs with his mobile phone when everyone was running for safety, consequently the security officials accosted and cautioned him.
He said: “Basically nobody was manhandled. The truth of the matter is that in the midst of the stampede and confusion, the representative was taking pictures. Everybody’s phones were seized, including the Managing Director of Folawiyo and everybody, who came to support us. So, anybody caught taking pictures at that time had his or her phone seized.
“That was what happened with the DPR representative, and the security at the gate took over control of the security of the entire premises.”

Speaking on the development, the MRS Group Executive Director, Mrs. Amina Maina, said that she was not aware that a DPR representative was beaten up by the security officials, even as she offered apologies.
“We apologise for whatever has happened to the official of DPR, and I think it is as a result of the confusion,” Maina said.



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