A fresh tragedy involving a truck allegedly linked to the Dangote Group has sparked outrage in Edo State, with cleric Apostle Johnson Suleiman publicly condemning billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote for what he described as reckless business practices.
In a strongly worded Instagram post, the President of Omega Fire Ministries alleged that the company’s poorly managed trucks have left countless families grieving.
“Your recklessness in managing your business has caused harm to families and made many parents childless. Your truck just killed three persons a few minutes ago in Auchi. You give trucks to little boys who are high on drugs and untrained. This won’t go unchallenged,” Suleiman wrote, directly tagging Dangote.
The cleric’s remarks came after reports that a Dangote truck crushed three persons to death in Auchi on Sunday August 17, deepening concerns over the safety of the conglomerate’s heavy-duty vehicles on Nigerian roads.
Recall that another Dangote-linked truck was involved in a devastating accident near Auchi Polytechnic, which left Ruth Otabor, sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Josephina “Phyna” Otabor, severely injured.
Ruth, who had just completed her studies at the institution, had her left leg amputated at the pelvic region following the crash, while also sustaining severe injuries to her right leg and hand. The accident prompted Phyna to accuse the company of attempting to shield the driver by removing the truck’s license plate, a claim that fueled widespread public criticism.
Although Dangote Cement Plc later dispatched senior officials and its insurer to visit Ruth at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, pledging full medical support and compensation, the incident left many Nigerians questioning the safety protocols guiding the firm’s truck operations.
With Apostle Suleman now joining other citizens, particularly Edo people, pressure is mounting on the Dangote Group to review its driver recruitment and training policies. Social media has also been awash with demands for justice, with many insisting that both the company and its drivers be held to stricter accountability standards to prevent further tragedies.
