'Arrest of NLC president for Imo state' - Wetin we know

Nigeria Labour Congress say some armed men wey wear security cloth carry dia President, Joe Ajaero for Owerri, Imo state, Southeast Nigeria.

Imo state goment don continue to use di instrument of violence and intimidation’ against trade unions and dia leadership for di state.

Dem say dem bin only ask di governor to pay di salaries wey e owe state workers, di labour joinbodi tok for statement wey NLC and TUC sign.

NLC and TUC condemn di detention of Ajaero den tell President Bola Tinubu to chook mouth for di mata.

“Just as Nigerian workers bin gather earlier dis morning led by di leadership of di two Labour centres to demonstrate our outrage over di serial and habitual abuse and violation of di rights of workers for di state, di goment unleash blood-curdling mayhem on di workers, dem add.

“Earlier for morning, policemen bin try to scatter workers wey bin gather for di state NLC secretariat without success. Dis bin follow di usual manner by ‘thugs’ wey dey stationed very close to di Secretariat for several Hilux and Toyota trucks.

“Dis ‘thugs’ later unleash gbege on di few workers wey already don gather, smash car windscreens, deliver matchet cuts on some, stab many, and inflict all kind injuries on di workers.

“As if dat damage no dey enough, di President of di NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, land di venue wit some workers to inspect di carnage and to provide di necessary leadership for di trade union action to continue, only for Policemen of di Imo State Police Command wey bin come inside several trucks to come.”

Di unions join-bodi further add say police alegedlly also come wit thugs wey di Special Assistant to di govnor on Special Duties, Chinasa Nwaneri.

Dem say di SA bin descend on Ajaero afta dem overpower di few workers wey remain afat di initial kasala and sustain injuries.

Dat na wen di police take away Joe Ajaero without any informate about wia dem take am, dem tok.

Wetin NLC, TUC want

Di labour unions further tok say “dis latest action of di state goment and di Police further demonstrate our earlier cries to Nigerians on di level of violence and impunity wey dey go on for Imo State.

“If di President of Congress fir dey abducted for broad daylight and taken to one unknown destination by di Police and di State govnor, imagine wetin bin dey do to workers and trade union leaders for di state!

“All wetin we dey ask from di govenor be to honour agreements wey dey signed between us and to respect di rights of workers for di state.

Workers deserve dia wages and if you dey di habit to dey owe workers, you fit make dia lives unstable and strip dem of dia humanity.

Dis na some of di tins wey we don ask Hope to do but to which e don refuse to heed; instead, e believe use of intimidation and violence against di workers and di pipo.”

Di Labour union bin call on dia members to dey ready for one strike action if authorities no release Joe Ajaero by di end of Wednesday 1 November 2023.

Police for Imo state deny say dem arrest President of di Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero.

Di police command for dia response to di allegation say dem arrest Ajaero tok say, e dey relevant make dem say di NLC President bin dey Owerri as part of arrangements of di Congress to mobilize workers for one mega protest rally for di state.

During dia planning, e bin dey reported say suggestions for lockdown of some essential facilities particularly di airport bin arise wey make some workers and oda individuals resist di picketing process lead to fight-fight and heated arguments and attack on di pesin of dia president by one mob, Imo police add.

Wen dem hia di informate of di gbege, Imo Police Command further tok say dem dim sharpaly deploy police operatives to scene.

“Di Officer in Charge bin exercise im operational discretion by taking NLC President into protective custody for di State Command Headquarters to ensure di protection of im life and say e bin no dey lynched for di scuffle wey follow”.

Di Commissioner of Police later direct say make dem take am to Police Medical Services, Owerri, wia e go get medical attention sake of di attack.

E therefore dey accorded adequate security cover to proceed on im oda legitimate engagements for di day.

However, e dey necessary to emphasize say existence of court injunction from di National Industrial Court of Nigeria for Owerri wit Suit No. NICN/OW/41/2023 dated 27th October, 2023, bar NLC from holding di intended protest rally for Owerri, Police tok.