Boko Haram Takes Over Ashaka Cement Factory In Gombe

Islamist militants group Boko Haram are reported to have taken over the premises of a a starategic cement manufacturing company in Gombe state shortly after killing five people including a Sheikh in a neighboring town.

Workers at Ashaka Cement factory said the heavily armed militants arrived in convoy of pick up vans and began shooting indiscriminiately at workers after the security guards at the company fled into the bush.

AshakaCem Plc is a cement manufacturing company focused on producing cement to states in Nigeria with hundreds of employees. The company has participated in the economic growth and development of Nigeria for over three decades and operate in the manufacturing, sales and marketing sectors.

AshakaCem Plc was incorporated in August 1974 and commenced production in 1979 as a cement manufacturing and marketing company under the name Ashaka Cement Company Limited. The Company was initiated by the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank Limited in collaboration with Blue Circle Industries Plc UK (now LAFARGE SA), the Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry, Northern Nigeria Investment Limited and the Government of the then North- Eastern State (now Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States). Today, however, AshakaCem Plc is a full subsidiary of Lafarge SA.