- We didn’t arrest Ajaero – Police
- NLC, TUC threaten nationwide action
- Activists condemn alleged arrest of NLC leader
The Nigeria Labour Congress claimed on Wednesday that its president, Joe Ajaero, was brutalized by the Nigeria Police in Owerri, Imo State.
This was contained in a statement released by the head of media at the NLC headquarters, Benson Upah, who said that the union’s President was later released by the police.
He noted that immediately after his arrest, Ajaero was beaten up, blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where more brutalization took place.
“Contact was made with Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero this evening around 1530 hours at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he is receiving medical attention.
“Thoroughly brutalized, his right eye at the time of contact was completely shut. His phones, money and other personal effects were taken off him and have not been returned to him,” he said.
The NLC and Trade Union Congress also warned Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to release Ajaero to avoid throwing the state into chaos.
Ajaero, according to a joint statement on Wednesday signed by the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, and TUC Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, was taken away by officials of the state government backed by the police.
This comes after the NLC had declared that industrial action would begin on November 1 in Imo State over the government’s alleged violation of workers’ rights.
The joint statement said: “The Government of Imo state has continued to use the instrument of violence and intimidation against trade unions and their leadership in the state. Just as Nigerian workers gathered earlier this morning led by the leadership of the two labour centres to demonstrate our outrage over the serial and habitual abuse and violation of the rights of workers in the state; the government unleashed blood cuddling mayhem on the workers.
“Earlier in the morning, Policemen had tried to disperse workers who were gathering at the state NLC secretariat without success. This was followed in the usual manner by thugs who were stationed very close to the secretariat in several Hilux and Toyota trucks.
“These thugs were later to unleash mayhem on the few workers who had already gathered, smashing car windscreens, delivering matchet cuts on some, stabbing many, and inflicting all manners of injuries on the workers. GSM handsets were snatched, Laptops taken away and monies were forcefully taken away by the hoodlums.
“As if that damage was not enough, the President of the NLC; comrade Joe Ajaero arrived the venue accompanied by few individual workers to inspect the carnage and to provide the necessary leadership for the trade union action to continue only to be met by Police men of the Imo state Police Command who came in their numbers and in several trucks.
“The Police in the usual manner accompanied by thugs led by the Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo State on Special Duties, Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri leading others like Tapey and Madoka descended on the President of the Congress after overpowering the few workers who were left after the initial battering, inflicted heavy injuries and big blows to his head and body and kicking him in the process while dragging him on the ground while the Police supervised the mayhem.
“They eventually bundled the President into their waiting van and whisked him away to an unknown destination where he is still being held incommunicado as we write. This latest action of the state government and the Police further demonstrates our earlier cries to Nigerians on the level of violence and impunity going on in Imo State. If the President of the Congress can be abducted in broad daylight and taken to unknown destination by the Police and the state governor, imagine, what they have been doing to workers and trade union leaders in the state
“This is mindboggling and unacceptable in sane societies. The use of violence against innocent citizens especially against trade union leaders by the state has unfortunately become the norm. It is a new normal that may affect our nation dearly if people are allowed to get away with such violence and bloodletting.”
The trade unions noted that all they were asking is for Uzodimma to honour agreements signed between them and to respect the rights of workers in the state.
“Workers deserve their wage and if you are in the habit of owing workers, you make their lives unstable and strip them of their humanity. These are some of the things we have asked Hope to do but to which he has refused to heed instead, he believes in the use of intimidation and violence against the workers and the people.
“We call on Nigerian workers, wherever they may be; in the respective industrial Unions; the state councils and the branches to be on alert for an immediate nationwide action if by the end of today, the President of the Congress is not released. We cannot be at work while our President is in the gulag and we cannot be at peace when the Government of Imo state continues to disrespect workers and treat them with utter disdain.
“With this statement, we want to put the Nigerian government on notice that we want the President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) immediately released. The injuries meted to him must be treated forthwith and his freedom to lead Nigerian workers in a peaceful protest guaranteed. This is what we demand as we proceed to the meetings of the various organs to take decisions on further steps that will be taken. If this is not heeded now, anything that happens in the country, the governor of Imo State and the Police Commissioner must be held responsible.
“Nigeria is a country of laws and we especially the leaders must learn to work within their ambits. The IGP who is in the state must call his operatives to order to avoid loss of lives, properties and further injuries on innocent workers in Imo State. Workers in Imo State must be free and we must all join hands to ensure that this happens,” the statement said.
The NLC and TUC called on President Bola Tinubu to call Uzodimma to order, adding that they would not be deterred in their mission to ensure that workers’ rights are respected.
“Hope Uzodimma must be called to order by the President and Commander in chief of the Armed forces to avert what he has chosen to turn the state into – a den of thugs and blood suckers. We will press on with our engagement as trade unions until the Government listens to the demands of the workers. The Governor should not be deluded into thinking that today’s violence will stop our resolve and determination to save the workers of Imo state. It has rather encouraged us to organize more so that we will engage him more creatively and effectively.
“Once again, we call on the Police to immediately release the President of Congress without further delay,” they said.
Confirming the arrest, Ajaero’s personal assistant, Onyeka Chris, said the police led by Governor Hope Uzodimma’s aide, Chinasa Nwaneri, brought thugs to the NLC secretariat to unleash mayhem and whisk Ajaero away.
“We came to Imo for our proposed strike which kicked off today. In the morning, few of us came to the secretariat to organize the industrial action. But the police brought thugs to unleash mayhem and arrest many of our members. Some of us were able to evade arrest.
“Then the NLC President heard what was happening and decided to come to the secretariat. But they were apparently waiting for him. They swooped on him and took him away.
“As I speak with you, we don’t know where they took him. We cannot reach him. His phone has been switched off. The Police came with Chinasa Nwaneri leading thugs. They beat up everybody. It is complete mayhem.”
We didn’t arrest Ajaero – police
However, contrary to the claims that Ajaero was arrested by the police in Imo State during a protest, the state command has denied the allegation but asserted that he was only taken to their custody to safeguard his life from a scuffle arising from the protest.
A statement by the state police spokesperson, Henry Okoye further claimed that it was during the attempt to lockdown the airport by the leaders of the union to have a heavy effect that led to a disagreement between the protesters and workers at the airport.
This according to the police spokesperson led to a misunderstanding and the police he said had to wade into the matter to avert loss of life and property.
His statement read in parts “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 by taking the NLC President into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed.
“The Commissioner of Police thereafter 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,” Okoye stated.
He however recalled that there was an existing court injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria holding in Owerri with Suit No. NICN/OW/41/2023 dated 27th October, 2023, barring the NLC from holding the intended protest rally in Owerri.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, Mohammed Barde has therefore urged 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, especially as the state gears up for the forthcoming electioneering process on November 11, 2023.
Activists condemn alleged arrest of NLC president
Meanwhile, the United Action Front of Civil Society, a group of Nigerian activists, on Wednesday, condemned the alleged arrest of Ajaero in Owerri.
They further warn of an impending mass action if anything happens to him.
Reacting via a statement, the National Coordinator of the group, Olawale Okunniyi, condemned Ajaero’s arrest, saying the governor had allegedly shot himself in the foot.
According to him, the development is capable of making Uzodimma lose his re-election bid, which is less than two weeks away.
He said, “It will therefore be in the interest of the governor that nothing happens to Ajaero in his illegal custody to avoid a total shutdown of Abuja and Nigeria as the Nigerian people are being pushed by bandits in power towards mass action.”
