How Kogi ‘Vigilantes’ inflict enormous damage on Dangote Cement in Obajana

*The company relates over 500 ‘Government Vigilantes’ Wednesday invaded the Dangote Cement Plant Plc at Obajana, destroyed the company’s assets, and shot at staff at the behest of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Destruction of the company’s assets wounded staff from gunshots, and violation of the fundamental human rights of staff and commuters are some of the fallouts from the invasion of the Dangote Cement Plc by the extra-judicial forces popularly referred to as ‘Government Vigilantes’ or ‘Government Hunters’ of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

Dangote Group Saturday, October 8, 2022, said over 500 Government Vigilantes invaded the Dangote Cement Plant located at Obajana Wednesday, at the behest of Governor Bello, and forcefully shut down the multinational company’s operations.

Some wounded Dangote Staff in hospital beds after the attack by Kogi State Government Vigilantes   Photo: Kogi Reports

The Group also disclosed that cement trucks were burnt, and several others were vandalised, as they forcefully hijacked Dangote buses and vans during the attack.

The company said in a statement that “market and business activities have been brought to a standstill since the attack was launched.

“No fewer than 27 Dangote staff are currently in bad conditions after they were shot at by the invaders.”

The control rooms were forcefully shut down and equipment whose monetary value has not been computed was vandalised, the company noted.

The statement further said that communication cords were severed to bring production to an abrupt halt.

The marauding invaders also blocked the roads, distorted vehicular movement, and restrict the movement of people all around Obajana.

It stated: “Since the criminal attack, our vehicles carrying diesel have been attacked along Anyigba Road.”

Victims receiving treatment at Kogi Specialist Hospital

Following the Wednesday’s attack on the staff of Dangote Cement, the company has disclosed the victims of the Government-sanctioned invasion are currently admitted to the emergency section of the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, in Lokoja, the state capital.

Mr. Tijani Mukhtari, 45, who was shot severally in the lower abdomen and in other parts by the invading thugs, is currently battling for his life.

Health workers, who were seen attending to him, said he was slated for emergency surgery,

Mukhtari was having difficulty breathing when visited in the hospital, as he was experiencing extreme pain from the bullets lodged in his body, said the company.

Likewise, Mr. Aminu Sarki, 43, a fleet officer in the Transport Section of the Dangote Cement Plant, who was shot in the leg, condemned the act as illegal and criminal in nature.

Narrating his ordeal, Sarki said he was inside his office when a strayed bullet pierced through and hit him on the leg.

“Because of loud gunshots by the governor’s boys, I was just hiding inside our office at the PTI when the bullets hit me and got lodged inside my legs,” narrated the fleet officer.

He urged the Federal Government to intervene quickly, and help to stop the excesses by the Kogi State Governor and his marauding thugs.

Narrating his tribulation over the Wednesday’s experience, 21-year-old Isyaku Adamu, one of the victims who was also shot, described the invasion as barbaric and nasty.

Young Adamu also called on both the company and the government to resolve the conflict in the interest of the masses who will be most affected.

Most market men and women, who spoke to the reporter said the invasion by the government had not only affected the company, the markets have virtually been closed down too because there were no customers.

Peter Dare, a businessman in the Obajana main market, described the situation as worrisome. Dare said thousands of people would be impoverished, if the company is not opened this week.

Madam Esther, a tomato seller, wondered why the government was insensitive to the plight of the masses, describing the current administration as the worst in the history of Kogi State.

The woman said: “The governor will not give us the job.

“Now that we are doing petty businesses, they are closing down the company that is helping us.”