Labour declares nationwide strike over attack on chairman, Ajaero

Members of the organised labour, on Friday declared a nationwide strike, scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, to protest the recent attack on the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero in Imo State.

Recall that Ajaero was arrested, brutalised and hospitalised by policemen allegedly attached to the governor of the State, Hope Uzodimma, during a protest to press home the demands of Imo workers bordering on alleged violation of their rights.

Addressing journalists at Labour House, Abuja on Friday, the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, who was accompanied by other officials of NLC, said they are demanding immediate redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Barde from the State.

He said, “Comrade Joe Ajaero was blindfolded, beaten to a pulp, brutalised, humiliated, and violated by the police personnel and taken to an unknown destination where he was subjected to more battering and torture as well as threatened with death before help came his way via the National Security Adviser; Mr Nuhu Ribadu who ordered for his immediate release.

“However, due to the severity of his injuries, the police had to take him to the Police Hospital where we made contact with him at 3:30 pm. At the time of our first contact with Comrade Joe Ajaero, his right eye was puffed, black and shut, one of his ears has tiny trace of dried blood, his speech was slurred and incoherent.

“He had welts all over him. He did not recognise the people around him and could not walk without being aided or supported. Inevitably, he had to be taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri for more investigation.”