Kogi State, on Wednesday, sealed the Dangote Cement factory in Obajana, following agitation by indigenes on the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the company.

The Kogi State House of Assembly ordered the closure of the company after its investigation into the cement factory’s operation allegedly revealed that no valid acquisition took place for the company.

Jubilant youths, who had trooped to the company on hearing the news of the closure, chased workers away but were stopped by Kogi officials, who promptly waded in to avoid damage.

The youths claimed that the Company had neglected the community it is making money from, despite the fact that residents alleged claim of pollution.

The State’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, while responding to journalists’ questions, said, “Pursuant to the constitutional authorities of the Kogi State House of Assembly and upon petition by the people of Kogi State, an investigation is being carried out on the acquisition of Obajana Cement Company by Dangote cement.

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“The legislators invited the Chairman of the Company, Aliko Dangote, before the house for explanations but he failed to appear before the state Assembly.

Meanwhile, members of the mining and host communities have condemned the Kogi State Government for what they described as extra judicial and unlawful deployment of the vigilantes to cause chaos in the Obajana community.

The vigilantes group led by the state Director-General of Lands; Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security,  Commodore Jerry Omodara(rtd), Chairman of Kabba/Bunnu LGA, Chairman of Ijumu LGA  and the State ALGON Chairman, Alh. Taofeek; Senior Special Assistant on Job Creation, Mr. Dele Iselewa and Chairman of Lokoja LGA, Alh. Mohammed Dansabe.

The vigilante group members were 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.

A source who identified some of the vigilante men as thugs said most of them were drawn from state vigilante and hunters who have been working for the state government.