The Management of Dangote Cement Plc has accused Kogi State Government of instigating vigilantes led by state officials to shoot at 27 workers.

The assailants also destroyed some of the company’s property at the plant in the process of forcefully evicting the workers to enforce the shutdown.

Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Michel Punchercos, insists that the Obajana Cement plant is 100 per cent owned by Dangote Cement Plc.

“In the process of forcefully evicting the workers to enforce the shutdown, the vigilantes shot 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.

Punchercos has appealed to all its staff and customers to remain calm while the company explored all possible legal steps to address the illegal shutdown of its Obajana plant by the Kogi government.

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

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The managing director said the company had taken steps to get the hoodlums apprehended by the law enforcement agencies, and would ensure that full legal action was taken against them.

“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.

The Star