Illegal fuel sellers now use water coolers
Illegal petrol sellers in Gombe have added water coolers to their variety of fuel containers, all in their bid to escape the prying eyes of security agents.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that small and large-size coolers are used to hoard and hawk petrol.
NAN investigations, however, revealed that only known and trusted customers are sold the commodity to avoid falling into the hands of policemen in mufti.
A few weeks ago, polythene bags were used as fuel containers just as the 'hide-and-seek' game between the police and black marketers heightened.
The polythene container was later to be abandoned as the method proved unreliable and prone to detection.
The coolers, apart from being 'air tight', are also difficult to detect as security agents can hardly distinguish a water cooler from a ''fuel cooler'' wherever the two are lined-up along the streets.
The Gombe state Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr Maddiko Bashir, confirmed the practice, saying that appropriate 'detection formula' were being worked out by the police.
Meanwhile, the prolonged fuel scarcity has brought about a drastic reduction in the number of vehicles plying the highways in Gombe.
NAN observed that most vehicle owners have turned petrol filling stations to 'parking centres' where they practically abandoned them for days in anticipation of fuel supply to such stations.