By Dipo Olowookere
No fewer than 285 truck drivers on the payroll of Dangote Group of Companies Plc have been declared wanted.
Also, an unnamed number of another set of drivers are said to be at large.
The drivers were alleged to have stolen about 3.5 million customised tyres belonging to the company.
Addressing newsmen on Sunday in Lokoja, Kogi State, Coordinator of Dangote’s National Patrol Unit, Mr Abdullahi Magaji, who is a retired Commissioner of Police, explained that each tyre of the company had an identification number and the number was registered with the driver’s name at collection point.
According to him, “285 drivers identified to have collected 285 tyres have been declared wanted while a number of others are on the run.”
He said further that, “We have stopped their salaries and we are looking for them. So far, about 3.5 million tyres are missing from the company and we believe they are in circulation within and outside the country. We are determined to recover them.”
Mr Magaji appealed to “those patronising the drivers and who encouraged them to steal our tyres to stop forthwith,” pointing out that “Dangote tyres are customised and marked. Dealers and vulcanisers should please beware.”
”People should ensure that the tyres they buy either as new or second hand are not customised Dangote tyres. We have arraigned some drivers and dealers caught with some tyres and efforts are being made to arrest vulcanisers involved,” he warned.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya