Police, Imo government jointly carried out attack on NLC president- Amnesty International

Police, Imo government jointly carried out attack on NLC president- Amnesty International

Amnesty International, a human rights organization, has alleged that the Nigerian Police, in collaboration with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, were involved in the mistreatment of Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), during a labor union protest in Imo.

In a statement posted on its official social media channel, Amnesty International claimed that the Imo state government, in coordination with the police, resorted to violence and oppressive tactics to intimidate the labor union during the protest that took place on Wednesday.

“The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Joe Ajaero, was subjected to physical assault and blindfolded by the police, in collusion with the Imo state government in Owerri. The use of violence and repressive methods to intimidate the labor union represents an unacceptable and new level of impunity,” read the statement by Amnesty International.

During the protest held in Imo, Ajaero was reportedly subjected to brutal treatment, with allegations suggesting the involvement of the Nigerian Police in the incident.

However, the Police countered these claims, dismissing them as rumors and asserting that they took the union president into preventive custody due to intelligence regarding a potential mob attack against him.

Governor Uzodinma also denied any complicity in the attack, attributing the allegations to attempts at blackmailing his government in the lead-up to the November 11 governorship election.