The Cement Obajana, in Kogi state has said that no fewer than seven staff of Dangote Cement, Obajana in the state were shot and several others injured as over 500 armed members of the state’s security outfit, the Vigilantes, stormed the cement factory in the early hours of today (Wednesday) at the instance of the state government.
In a statement by the corporate communication department of Dangote alleged that the vigilante group were led by the state Director-General of Lands Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Commodore Jerry Omodara (rtd) and Chairman of Kabba/Bunnu LGA.
Meanwhile, members of the mining and host communities who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity condemned the Kogi State Government for what they described as extra-judicial and unlawful deployment of armed security men to cause chaos in the Obajana community.
The statement by the Dangote group also alleged that the Chairman of Ijumu LGA and the State ALGON Chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Isah Senior Special Assistant on Job Creation, Mr Dele Iselewa and Chairman of Lokoja LGA, Alh. Mohammed Dansabe, were among the team.
It added that the vigilante group members were allegedly wielding arms of different kinds including local and assorted rifles as residents and passersby scamper for safety.
As at the time of this report some 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 community said the youths of the community can never be used, and will not take part in such ‘evil practices’.