Brutalised NLC President To Undergo Brain Scan

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who was arrested on Wednesday by the operatives of the Nigeria Police, Imo State command and seriously brutalised, is to undergo brain scan, full body scan, and cervical spine therapy among other investigations.

This is contained in a statement by the Head of Information of NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, who said that the NLC President, Joe Ajaero was presently on a neck collar with weal all over his skin.

Upah said that Ajaero was earlier taken to the Police hospital in Owerri but, later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri for better medical attention.

The NLC spokesman said that Comrade Ajaero was thoroughly brutalized, with his right eye shut at the time of contact, adding that phones, money and other personal effects with him were collected by his abductors.

The Organised Labour had warned that they would embark on nationwide action if the detained President of the NLC was not released by the close of work on Wednesday.

The NLC President, Comrade Ajaero was apprehended in Owerri, Imo State, during a worker-led protest against the alleged persistent infringement of their rights by the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led administration in Imo state.

The NLC had threatened a nationwide strike by urging workers to be prepared for immediate measures, insisting that productivity cannot resume while Comrade Ajaero remain in detention.

The organised labour movement therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of necessity intervene and restrain Governor Uzodimma in order to prevent the state from devolving into what they describe as “a den of thugs and bloodsuckers”.

In its reaction, the Police command in Imo State, said the NLC President was in protective custody in order to keep him safe from harm.

This was as the Imo State government denied involvement in the arrest of the NLC President, Comrade Ajaero.

The state government through its Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Declan Emelumba in a statement, described as mischief the accusation by some individuals that the government gave orders for the arrest of Ajaero.

Emelumba further said that the purported strike in the State was stopped by the National Industrial Court in Owerri and therefore rendered the planned action illegal, adding 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.

The Commissioner wondered what the NLC President was doing in Owerri in defiance of the Court order which warned of severe consequences against disobedience, adding that information at the disposal of government indicated that there might have been a clash between the workers of Imo State and invaders from Abuja, which led to police intervention to maintain the peace.