The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, has accused Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, and the operatives of the Nigerian Police Force of “abducting” its President, Joe Ajaero.
In a joint press statement issued by its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, and Secretary General (TUC), Nuhu Toro, the unions stated that the “Imo State government 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.”
The unions also stated, “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 were taken away, and money was forcefully taken away by the hoodlums.
While explaining how the NLC president was arrested, the unions stated, “As if that damage was not enough, the President of the NLC, comrade Joe Ajaero, arrived at the venue accompanied by a few individual workers to inspect the carnage and provide the necessary leadership for the trade union action to continue, only to be met by policemen 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, inflicting 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 about 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 an 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 mind-boggling 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 cost our nation dearly if people are allowed to get away with such violence and bloodletting.”
