Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has spoken out following his ordeal at the hands of Imo State Police Command officers.
The labour leader described his experience of being beaten by Imo State Police Command personnel, revealing that he had swollen eyes in the now-viral video.
“Ah they beat me oh, God must have taken extra time to create me,” Mr Ajaero in the now viral video said.
His revelation comes hours after the Nigerian Police denied arresting the NLC president.
NLC, on Wednesday, had organized a protest rally in Owerri, over the alleged insensitivity of the state government over the worker’s plight in the state.
Ajaero, who arrived Imo on Wednesday morning to press home the demand of the aggrieved workers of the State, was taken into custody by men of the Imo State Police Command in Owerri shortly after the protest commenced.
The president of the union was allegedly brutalized by men from the State Command and taken to an undisclosed location, according to the labour union spokesperson.
However, the disclosure incited outrage, leading organizations like Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Projects and Amnesty International to denounce the assault and demand the head of the union be freed immediately.
Both SERAP and Amnesty International urged President Tinubu led government to investigate events that led to the attack of the labour union.
NUPENG Slams Imo Govt Over Attack On NLC President Threaten To Strike
Nigerians may experience fuel scarcity as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has condemned the attack on the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
In addition, NUPENG threatened to disband due to the perceived involvement of Imo State government agents in the attack and brutalization of labour leaders Joe Ajaero and others.
Recall that on Wednesday at the NLC secretariat in Owerri, suspected thugs contracted by the state attacked and brutalized Ajaero and other NLC leaders as well as members of their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), and some journalists.
The thugs allegedly descended on Labour leaders and other protesters, smashing vehicles, inflicting injuries and dispossessing handsets, money, ATM cards among other valuables from labour leaders and others that had gathered at the NLC State secretariat to begin the scheduled protest over pending labour issues.
Speaking on the incident NUPENG’s President, Prince Williams Akporeha, threatened to call for a nationwide industrial action.
He warned that NUPENG will call a nationwide strike if the Imo state government does not release the arrested labour leaders and address the grievances of its workers.
He said “We condemn with the strongest term the arrest and brutalization of Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other labour leaders by the agents of Imo State Government.
“We reject the act of violence and barbarism being unleashed on labour leaders, workers and others. We cannot accept this uncivilised behaviour in a democracy.
“The workers of Imo State must be freed. We are determined to free the state workers because injury to one is to all.”
Ada Peter
