The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has levelled serious accusations against the Imo State police, alleging that they subjected their President, Joe Ajaero, to a rather rough treatment that landed him in the hospital. The situation takes a rather cryptic twist as the police staunchly deny having anything to do with Mr. Ajaero’s alleged arrest, hinting that political thugs might be responsible. It seems like a subtle warning, cautioning him to steer clear of the state’s affairs.
The incident in question took place in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, where Ajaero was reportedly apprehended by a group of heavily armed individuals, who we’ll generously call “thugs.” They whisked him away to an undisclosed location, leaving the public in the dark about his whereabouts.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Benson Uper, the Head of Media at the NLC Headquarters, did confirm that Ajaero has been released by the police. However, he didn’t sugarcoat the situation, asserting that Ajaero ended up in the hospital due to a severe beating at the hands of the Imo State Police Command’s operatives. This isn’t exactly a friendly tap on the shoulder; it’s more of a clear message for Ajaero to mind his business and stay away from Imo State.
As if that wasn’t enough, immediately following his arrest, Ajaero found himself on the receiving end of a rather brutal experience. He was roughed up, blindfolded, and shipped off to a secret location where, to put it mildly, things got pretty nasty. Bottles seemed to have made an appearance in this unfortunate episode.
Eventually, there was contact with the Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, but the circumstances were far from ideal. He was reached at the Police Hospital in Owerri, where he was then moved to the Federal Medical Centre for medical attention. The extent of the damage was evident, with his right eye completely shut, and his belongings like phones and money nowhere to be found.
Naturally, this incident sparked quite a commotion in the news, but the Imo State Police Command was quick to deny any involvement in Ajaero’s ordeal. Instead, they claim to have been protecting him. According to Police Public Relations Officer Okoye Henry, Ajaero was placed in protective custody to shield him from harm amidst some labor-related turmoil.
Intriguingly, there’s a court order from the National Industrial Court in Owerri that allegedly prevents the NLC from holding their intended protest rally in the state. This, according to the police, further complicates matters and poses a potential threat to security arrangements in Owerri, especially in light of the upcoming November 11 governorship election.
So, in summary, Ajaero certainly had quite an eventful day, one that could be described as nothing short of “shege.”
