http://newsspot-ng..com.ng/2015/11/okpella-crises-rights-group-berates.html?m=0#more

Civil Society group, Nigeria Rights Protection Group (NRPG) has condemned the activities of a frontline Nigerian cement manufacturing company DANGOTE cements in Okpella community of 

Speaking on behalf of Group, the Coordinator of the group Comrade Ibrahim Mohammed in a press conference yesterday in Abuja, condemned in strong terms the activities of Dangote Cement Company which according to him are disrupting the peaceful co existence between Kogi and Edo state indigigenes leaving around the border town of Okpella. " It is no longer news that Dangote cement is expanding its business frontiers beyond the African continent, however despite its ascending traits, its activities in Okpella land calls for serious government scrutiny, as it is against all rules of business transactions globally. 

The group also queried the involvement of a prominent traditional leader in the controversial limestone transaction in the area.

"We are made to understand that the Attah of Ebiraland  Alhaji Ado Ibrahim  using his company sold  limestone deposits in Obu Okpella land to Dangote Cement Company. It beats our imagination why the King of Ebira would sell mineral deposits sited in a town located in Edo State.

This is not normal." the group stated.  "As such we view the interest of Dangote in the mineral resources in Okpella to pursuing a monopolistic agenda. Our concern is the desperate attempt to colonize the God's given gift of the people of Okpella by force through force, intimidation and destabilization of the host community. "What baffles us the most is the Invasion of the community by thugs allegedly sponsored by the Cement Company which led to the death of a man and the kidnapping of two expatriates. While we condemn in strong terms the brazen attack on that peaceful community  by thugs supposedly sponsored by Dangote Cement."  

The Rights group called on the National Security Adviser (NSA) to "without delay set up an investigative panel to unravel the roles of the Attah of Ebira  and his accomplices who are making life difficult for the people of Okpella." 

NRPG noted that there has never been any serious border clashes between inhabitants of Kogi state and Edo state, for centuries adding that they have been living with one another in peace and unity.  We believe the federal government need to urgently intervene as any lukewarm attitude towards this issue will not augur well for the security and peace of the nation. "The people of Okpella have rights over mineral deposits in their town. And they have a right to fight for their patrimony. What moral right has a king superintending over another kingdom to dispose mineral resources of the people of Okpella,l" they queried.  

The group also called on the National Assembly, particularly its Committee on National Security in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to view this attack on the Okpella Community  as a matter of serious national concern,  

"The people of this community are living in fear. We should all be reminded that Nigeria today needs peace, and any breach of security in any part of the country will stifle development particularly as this government is here for change. "We call on the federal government to nip the impending crisis in Okpella in the bud as there is tension in that community. A stitch in time saves nine," the group warned. 







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