Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, was allegedly subjected to a violent encounter with the police and subsequently hospitalized, according to the union spokesperson.
Ajaero was apprehended in Imo State during an NLC-led protest and strike aimed at addressing workers’ grievances, including unpaid salaries and pensions.
After his arrest, Ajaero claimed he was physically assaulted, blindfolded, and taken to an undisclosed location where he endured further brutal treatment, including attacks with bottles. His personal belongings, including phones and money, were seized and not returned to him.
Ajaero was taken into custody at the NLC secretariat in Owerri, Imo State’s capital, during the course of the protest.
The Imo State Police Command contested these claims, stating that Ajaero’s arrest was intended to ensure his safety. The police explained that there were scuffles and disagreements arising from the proposed lockdown of essential facilities during the protest, leading to an attack on Ajaero by a mob.
As a result, he was placed under protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to prevent harm.
The police contended that an injunction from the National Industrial Court on October 27, 2023, prohibited the NLC from holding the planned rally. The NLC, however, insists that Ajaero was brutalized after his arrest, not before.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Government has distanced itself from Ajaero’s arrest, with the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, describing those alleging government involvement as “perennial mischief makers.”
He stated that the court injunction rendered the planned strike illegal, and the Imo State NLC chapter had announced its withdrawal from the strike. The government claimed that Ajaero may have clashed with lawful workers from Imo State and intruders from Abuja, necessitating police intervention to maintain peace.
