The Nigeria Labour Congress has accused the Imo State Government of abducting its president, Joe Ajaero and attempting to murder him.
This was contained in a statement, titled Update on Imo : from abduction to attempted murder and released by NLC Head of Media, Benson Upah at about 5:30 pm on Wednesday November one.
The NLC says Contact was made with the Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero this evening around 15:30 hours at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri and currently receiving medical attention.
The statement says Ajaero was thoroughly brutalized and his right eye at the time of contact was swollen and shut.
The NLC says Ajaero who could barely speak, stated that immediately after his arrest, he was beaten up and blind-folded and taken to an unknown destination, where he was further manhandled.
The NLC says some valuables of Joe Ajaero including his phones, money and other personal effects that were seized are yet to be returned.
The NLC in an earlier statement had accused the state governor, Hope Uzodinma of using the state police to destabilise a planned protest against alleged unfair labour practices in the state.
Meanwhile the Imo state police command in a statement said it did not abduct and arrest Joe Ajaero, but was only taken into custody for protection after he was attacked by a mob, while mobilising workers to shutdown some critical public facilities like the Owerri Airport.
In a joint statement by the Trade Union Congress, TUC and the NLC, signed by the TUC secretary General, Nuhu Toro and NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, they vowed to declare a nationwide protest and strike if Joe Ajaero is not released unhurt.
Neither the ministry of Labour nor the presidency has so far reacted to the development in Imo state.
