The Management of Dangote Cement Plc, has assured all its staff and customers that the hoodlums who invaded its Obajana plant and shot some staff would be apprehended and brought to justice.

Scores of armed Kogi youth and some vigilante groups stormed the Obajana plant on Wednesday to effect a shutdown called by the Governor Yahaya Bello-led government.

In the melee, no fewer than 26 staffers of the cement company received bullet wounds in their bodies.

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.

Mr Punchercos 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.

“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. 

(NAN)