Eight suspects have been arrested for allegedly operating an illegal cement factory in Ogun State, Nigeria with focus on adulterating Dangote and Larfage Cement.

The arrest of the suspects who operates in Ewekoro town along Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway was effected by Soldiers of the 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Alamala, Abeokuta.

A statement from the Army made available to journalists in Abeokuta said that the suspects had been found to be in the business of adulterating products from Larfarge Cement and Dangote Cement which they mixed with sand and sawdust at their illegal factory and repackage it in Dangote Cement bags for sale to unsuspecting members of the public.

The suspects, the statement said included: Bamidele Raji, Sikiru Adesina, Abiodun Akinfenwa, Wale Ogunikea, Sarafa Yusuf, Joseph Guto, Funso Orutoso and Akinlodu Jalili.

According to the Army Public Relations Officer of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Adamu Ngulde, said the eight suspects were arrested by troops of the special squad, Operation MESA at about 5.00am on Monday while rebagging the product into sacks with Dangote Cement inscription on them at the site of their alleged illegal factory.

The Army spokesman added that, the suspects were found at the alleged illegal cement factory site in possession of four trucks belonging to Larfarge Cement company with registration numbers BDG 571 XB LAG 002, XZ 987 KRD LAG LB 011, XZ 985 KRD LAG TRL 11 and LSD 24 XA LAG TRS 016 and empty Dangote Cement bags used in rebagging their product.

He stated further that following preliminary investigation the suspects usually got cement product from Larfarge and Dangote Cement Company which they adulterate with sand dust and repackage it in Dangote Cement bags for distribution.

As at the time of this report, the authority said the suspects were being detained and the trucks impounded to allow investigations to be concluded before they would be handed over to the police for further investigation.