Obajana cement: Dangote moves to sue Kogi govt, thugs who attacked facility, workers

The management of Dangote Cement Plc has guaranteed its employees and clients that the thugs who broke into its Obajana factory and shot some employees would be caught and prosecuted.

Dangote Cement is owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.

Recall that some workers of Dangote Cement, Obajana in Kogi State were reportedly shot and others injured as armed members of the state’s security outfit stormed the cement factory on Wednesday.

The state House of Assembly had ordered the closure of the company after its investigation revealed that the cement factory allegedly had no valid acquisition for the company.

Some staff members of the company said about seven persons were shot during the incident.

But in a reaction on Friday in Lagos, Michel Punchercos, Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, vowed to deploy a full legal action to arrest the attackers

Punchercos stressed that the welfare of the company’s staff remained a key focus as the company worked hard to minimise the further impact on its people and operations.

“The management of Dangote Cement Plc, wishes to inform members of the public, especially its customers and other stakeholders of the recent invasion of its Obajana Cement Plant, Kogi by armed vigilantes on the orders of the state government.

“The vigilantes, led by some officials of the state government, were apparently acting on a resolution of the Kogi state House of Assembly on controversial tax claims.

“Claims that the state governor had also contradicted when he said the shutdown was due to an alleged invalid acquisition of the company by Dangote Industries Ltd.

“In the process of forcefully evicting the workers to enforce the shutdown, the vigilantes shots at 27 of our workers and also destroyed some of the company’s property at the plant.

“While we reiterate that Obajana Cement plant is 100 per cent owned by Dangote Cement PLC, we remain resolute in transforming Africa, while creating sustainable value for our people, communities, investors and customers,” he said.

(Credit: Sahara Reporters)