An unfortunate incident unfolded in Imo State as the National Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, was allegedly brutalised, leading to his hospitalisation.
The NLC accused the Imo State Police of the attack, although the police denied the arrest of Ajaero, instead stating they placed him in protective custody due to the escalating scuffle.
The Head of Media at the NLC Headquarters, Benson Uper, disclosed that Ajaero was taken from the NLC State Council Secretariat by heavily armed police officers and endured severe beatings after his arrest, resulting in hospitalisation. According to Uper, Ajaero’s right eye was swollen shut, and he was subjected to further mistreatment at an undisclosed location.
The Imo State Police, however, refuted the claims, asserting that Ajaero was protected from a mob’s attack during a scuffle that arose amid plans for a protest rally. They cited an order from the National Industrial Court in Owerri, forbidding the NLC from conducting the intended protest rally.
The Organised Labour swiftly responded to Ajaero’s alleged mistreatment, threatening nationwide protests if Ajaero is not released by the end of the day. The NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) accused the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, and the Imo State Commissioner of Police of abducting Ajaero, emphasizing the urgency of their demands for his release.
This alarming incident has prompted a call for action within the labour unions, as they insist that workers cannot continue their duties while their leader remains in detention. They urge President Bola Tinubu to intervene and prevent what they describe as the descent of the state into a violent and chaotic environment.