The people of Oteku community in Okpella clan Estako East Local Government have warned Dangote Group to negotiate with the real owners of the land before establishing a cement factory in the area.
Dangote Industries Limited recently announced plans to commence a three million tonnes per annum production capacity cement plant in Okpella after it obtained license from the Mining Cadastre office for the Obu limestone deposit.
Residents of Oteku who protested over the acquisition said they were not opposed to the presence of Dangote or any other investors but fighting against forces trading off their land without their consent.
The protesters who carried placards with inscriptions as “Okuokpellagbe romancing with Dangote on illegal lease”, “Obu deposit in Okpella not Kogi”, “Obu is for BUA not Dangote” and “Okuokpellagbe has sold our birthright” went through major Streets in Iddo, Okugbe and Afokpella.
Spokesman for the protesters, Mr. Uduafemeh Otaru Gospel, said they were prepared to resist any illegal acquisition of mining deposits in the area without the knowledge and consent of the land owners.
He said the protest was to avoid communal clash in Okpella.
President of Iddo Youth Forum, Mr. Mohammed Mohammed, said they would resist any attempt by Dangote Industries to frustrate investment of BUA Cement which has commenced cement production in the locality.
According to him, “We cannot condone its back door activities in Okpella. We are a peace loving people and don’t want crisis under the guise of investments.”
“Okpella people cannot watch helplessly as Ado Ibrahim and Dangote have redrawn the map of Okpella in Edo State.”
Executive Chairman Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua, who addressed the protesters, said Governor Adams Oshiomhole was already handling the matter.
He however promised to contact the Edo State Governor and relevant agencies, stressing that an inch of Okpella land will not be ceded to Kogi State.
He however maintained that Dangote and other investors were welcome to other minerals deposits which abound in Okpella.
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