The Dangote Group has reacted to allegations by Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) Season 7 winner, Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, that one of the company’s trucks knocked down her sister and left her critically injured.
Phyna had on Wednesday August 13 accused the company of attempting to shield its driver and truck after the police allegedly removed the truck’s licence plate on the company’s instruction.
She also alleged that a company manager was scheduled to visit the police station instead of first attending to the victim, identified as her younger sister.
In an Instagram post, the reality TV star wrote, “Dear @aliko_dangotegcon @dangotegroup from all that has happen you decided to rather tell the Nigerian police to remove the plate number on the truck that crush my sister, and also one of your managers is going to the station tomorrow, what happened to seeing my sister first? If that truck and your driver should leave that station!!! I will be right back I’m attending to my sister first.”
She added, “Na money you get you no be God. But my God is bigger. Enough is enough una don too cho peole but you see this??? Ahhhh.”
Veteran Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, also weighed in on the matter by posting a video of the Dangote truck allegedly involved in the incident.
“This @DangoteGroup truck in police custody in Auchi has hit a young girl who just graduated 6 days ago. The driver didn’t stop. He was chased down by an eyewitness lecturer who went after him. The license plate has been removed,” Henshaw wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
She further alleged, “Police are refusing the family and students access. One leg amputated already & the other one may soon be amputated as well. She is lying critical in hospital. She is the junior sister to @unusualphyna. Whoever owns the truck should own up. Calling on @PoliceNG @BenHundeyin to make sure justice is served..”
In a post on its official X page on Thursday, Dangote Group confirmed that the accident involved one of its trucks and identified the victim as Ruth Otabor.
The statement signed by the management of the company read, “Following the recent road accident in Auchi, Edo State, involving one of our trucks, which sadly resulted in injury to Mrs. Ruth Otabor, senior officials from Dangote Cement Plc, together with our Insurance team, promptly visited the scene, engaged with law enforcement authorities, and visited the victim and her family at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State.
“This action reflects our unwavering commitment to the well-being of those affected. We are ensuring full support for Mrs. Otabor, including comprehensive medical care and appropriate compensation, in line with Dangote Group’s welfare policy. Our thoughts remain with Mrs. Ruth Otabor and her loved ones, and we wish her a full and speedy recovery.”
