•Our hands are clean – Imo govt
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has been released from the police custody.
Ajaero, was said to have been arrested on Wednesday by the Nigeria Police in Owerri, capital of Imo State.The NLC President was taken into custody during a protest march organised by the NLC national leadership in response to claims that the state government was abusing and violating the rights of its workers.
The Organised Labour had threatened to embark on a nationwide wide industrial action if Ajaero was not released immediately.
A statement which was signed by the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja and Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), directed their members all over the country to get ready to shutdown the nation if Ajaero was not released by the end of Wednesday.
However, NLC Spokesman, Mr Benson Upah, who provided updated on the incident via a WhatsApp chat, told Daily Sun, that contact was made with Ajero, around 3.30 pm yesterday at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he was receiving medical attention.
“Thoroughly brutalized, his right eye at the time of contact was completely shut .
“Ajaero who said little stated 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 taken off him and have not been returned to him.” Upah said.
He added that Ajaero’s health condition must have scared them into releasing him. However, in a swift reaction, Imo State Police 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 spokesman, Mr.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 spokesman, led to a misunderstanding and the police he said had to wade into the matter to avert loss of life and property.
His statement reads 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.
Meanwhile, the Imo state Government has washed its hands clean concerning the arrest of Ajaero.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Declan Emelumba, said yesterday that those accusing the government of arresting the NLC president were perennial mischief makers always crying wolf where there is none.
The Commissioner recalled that the purported strike action in the state had been stopped by the National Industrial Court in Owerri, which makes the planned action illegal.
The Commissioner also noted that it was in compliance with the Court order,that the Imo State chapter of NLC announced that it was pulling out of the strike.
He wondered what Ajaero was doing in Owerri in defiance of the order of the court, which warned of severe consequences against disobedience.
He said information at the disposal of government indicated that there might have been a fiasco between lawful workers of Imo State and lawless invaders from Abuja, which led to police intervention to maintain the peace.
Emelumba stated categorically that the state government has no hand in the arrest since it believes in the rule of law.