Residents of Ewekoro in the Ewekoro Local Government Area have raised the alarm over the health risks they are exposed to due to the activities of Lafarge Africa Plc, makers of cement.

The residents, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on Monday, lamented that the community was no longer safe to live in, and every effort made to get the company to take appropriate action had yielded no result.

During a visit, our correspondent observed that many of the houses in the community were covered with cement dust particles.

It was also observed that the plant equipment from which carbon oxide emanated from the factory is located a few meters from the community.

The community head, Ayinde Akintokun, bemoaned neglect from successive governments in the state.

He stressed that many of their elderly persons have died from inhaling the cement dust particles.

“Cement dust is causing harm to our health in this community. Anytime the company starts its production, everywhere becomes dusty, and we won’t be able to go out. Our elderly ones are dying from inhaling the dust particles,” Akintokun said.

He added that the community had made efforts in the past to sue the company for environmental pollution.

“We have once sued Lafarge Africa Plc for environmental pollution, but because we don’t have money to pursue the case, it was not successful,” said.

He pleaded with the government at all levels to come to their aid and save them from cement dust particles.