From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
No fewer than seven staff of Dangote Cement company Obajana in Kogi state were shot and several others injured as workers scampered for safety when over 500 armed vigilante members invaded the company.
In a media statement by the Corporate Communication Department of Dangote group and made available to Journalists in Lokoja on Wednesday noted that the action of the vigilantes created panic within and surrounding environment of the plant.
The vigilante group were allegedly being led by the state Director-General of Lands; Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Commodore Jerry Omodara(rtd).
Others were, Chairman of Kabba/Bunnu LGA, Chairman of Ijumu LGA and the State ALGON Chairman, Alh. Taofeek; Senior Special Assistant on Job Creation, Mr Dele Iselewa and Chairman of Lokoja LGA, Alh. Mohammed Dansabe.
The vigilante group members were wielding arms of different kinds including local and assorted rifles as residents and passersby scamper for safety.
As at the time of this report seven staff of the cement company were being attended to at the hospitals over the gunshot wounds inflicted on them.
Mr. David Oluruntoba, spokesman for the Oyo Mining host community described the act as primitive and disgraceful, describing the act as extra-judicial and unlawful the deployment of the Vigilantes to cause chaos in the Obajana community.
Recall that the state government has been having running battle with the Dangote Cement Company over the acquisition of Obajana Cement and state equity shares in the Dangote Cement Limited.
In a swift reaction, the Kogi said, it has on Wednesday, sealed the Dangote Cement Factory, Obajana, following agitation by Kogi indigenes on the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of Obajana Cement by Dangote Cement company.
The state House of Assembly alleged that Dangote, upon invitation by the Assembly, requested for more time but did not appear at the House to show any evidence to the contrary.
The Commissioner for Information Kingsley Fanwo in a statement made available to Journalists in Lokoja on Wednesday said, “
Pursuant to the Constitutional authorities of the Kogi State House of Assembly, and upon petition by the people of Kogi State, an investigation was carried out on the acquisition of Obajana Cement Company by Dangote Company.
“It was found that no valid acquisition took place, as Dangote could not show evidence of what was paid as consideration for the acquisition.”
“The House of Assembly therefore ordered the closure of the company pending when they are able to present it with credible evidence of a valid acquisition.”
“In this regard, Dangote has an obligation to respect and also give effect to the resolution of the Kogi State House of Assembly to avoid any act of lawlessness.”
