Brutalised NLC President….
The Imo State Police Command has explained that its officers rescued the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero from mob who attacked him in Owerri, the State Capital.
In a statement today, November 1, by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Okoye Henry, the Command said that
the NLC President was taken into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and to make sure that he was not lynched
“It is pertinent to state that the NLC President was in Owerri as part of arrangements of the Congress to mobilize workers for a mega protest rally in the state.
“In the course of their planning, it was reported that suggestions arose for the lockdown of some essential facilities, particularly the airport, which led to some workers and other individuals resisting the picketing process leading to scuffles and heated arguments and an eventual attack on the person of the president by a mob.
“Upon receiving this report, the Imo Police Command swiftly deployed police operatives to the scene where the Officer in Charge exercised his operational discretion.”
The statement said that after Joe Ajaero was taken into safe custody, the Commissioner of Police directed that he should be taken to the Police Medical Services, Owerri, where he would be accorded medical attention as a result of the attack.
“He has therefore been accorded adequate security cover to proceed on his other legitimate engagements for the day.”
The Command however, drew the attention of the NLC leadership to an existing court injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria holden in Owerri with Suit No. NICN/OW/41/2023 dated 27th October, 2023, barring the NLC from holding the intended protest rally in Owerri.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, Mohammed Ahmed Barde, therefore urges all concerned parties to ensure compliance with the Court directives so as to avoid jeopardizing the current security arrangements on Owerri and other parts of Imo State, even as the State gears up for the forthcoming electioneering process on 11th November 2023.”
Information coming from Owerri said that Joe Ajaero was thoroughly brutalized, but any clarification as to who were responsible.
However, from the attack, his right eye was completely shut even as he reportedly said that immediately after his arrest, he was beaten up and blind-folded and taken to an unknown destination where more brutalisation took place, sometimes with bottles.
His phones, money and other personal effects were said to have been taken off him, also without information as to who took them from him.
