Electricity Union Workers Protest Ajaero’s Brutalization By Police, Switch Off Power Supply

By Ayodele Oni

National Union of Electricity Employees, has threatened to shut down electricity supply nationwide over the humiliation of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero by the Imo State Police Command.

The shutdown, which starts in the early hours of Thursday, was contained in a statement signed by the General Secretary of the union, Dominic Igwebike.

“We cannot be at work, while NLC is incapacitated and we cannot be at work while the rights of workers are being trampled on with utmost impunity.”

It described as atrocious and inhuman the treatment meted on the NLC president by the police in Owerri on Wednesday.

Also, National Union of Petroleum Employees (NUPENG) President, Williams Akporeha said, “We condemn with the strongest term the arrest and brutalization of Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other labour leaders by the agents of Imo State Government.

“We reject the act of violence and barbarism being unleashed on labour leaders, workers and others. We cannot accept this uncivilized behaviour in a democracy.

“The workers of Imo State must be freed. We are determined to free the State workers because injury to one is to all.”

Contrary to police claim that Ajaero was taken into protective custody,  the NLC insisted that he was brutally beaten and thereafter rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, where he is receiving medical attention.

The NLC Head of Information and Publicity,  Benson Upah, disclosed that Ajaero’s right eye was completely shut.

Ujah’s statement reads: “Contact has been made with Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero this evening at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he is receiving medical attention.

“Thoroughly brutalized, his right eye at the time of contact was completely shut. Ajaero was beaten up blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where more brutalization took place, sometimes with bottles.

“His phones, money, and other personal effects were taken off him and have not been returned to him.”