Dangote Refinery Takeover: Dangote Group Threatens News Outfit, Seal Off Newspaper Office

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Dangote Group threatens news outfit, seal off office over a story of possible takeover of Dangote refinery.

A news outfit, Kings Communications Limited, publishers of MMS+ weekly newspaper has come under threat over a publication of a story "AMCON May Take Over Dangote Refinery As Liabilities Swell", even as police officers said to be working with the Dangote Group have invaded the headquarters of company.

A statement with the title “Armed Policemen Invade MMS Plus Editor's Office Over Dangote Refinery News Story” signed by the Editor-In-Chief of the news outfit, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, read in part; “Four armed policemen early today have invaded the headquarters of Kings Communications Limited, publishers of MMS Plus newspaper in an attempt to accost the Editor-in-Chief of MMS Plus, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke and the Editor of MMS Plus, Mr. Kenneth Jukpor over a story published on possible take over of Dangote refinery by AMCON owing to increasing debts.

"It would be recalled that the siege by the police is a follow-up by earlier threats made by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Dangote Group, Mr. Anthony Chiejina at the weekend.

"Chiejina had threatened to deal with the editorial leadership of the news outfit via legal action following the news story titled "AMCON May Take Over Dangote Refinery As Liabilities Swell" written by our Reporter and published by our media organization

"After several failed attempts to get the Editor to pull down the story, the Dangote spokesman instead of a rejoinder or the legal action which he threatened against our media house, he has resorted to bullying by sending four policemen to besiege the headquarters of Kings Communications Limited in Festac, Lagos since 7am.

"The policemen asked for keys to the personal office of the Editor-in-Chief.

"It should also be on record that Chiejina had searched for the photos of the news editor, Jukpor and Publisher, Anaroke on Sunday and sent them to the editor as a subtle threat which was ignored.

"This press statement has become necessary to draw the attention of the global press to the plight of Journalists who refused to be gagged," the statement concluded.