Human rights activist, Femi Falana, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest police officers who allegedly brutalised the Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero , on Wednesday, in Imo state.
The activist also faulted the statement by the police on Ajaero’s arrest. where the force distanced itself from the arrest of the NLC President.
A statement released by the police through the state Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye.
Read in Part “The Imo State Police Command wishes to clarify some sketchy reports alleging the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Owerri. It is pertinent to state that the NLC President was in Owerri as part of arrangements of the Congress to mobilize workers for a mega protest rally in the state. In the course of their planning, it was reported that suggestions arose for the lockdown of some essential facilities particularly the airport which led to some workers and other individuals resisting the picketing process leading to scuffles heated arguments and an eventual attack on the person of the president by a mob.
“Upon receiving this report, the Imo Police Command swiftly deployed police operatives to the scene where the Officer in Charge exercised his operational discretion by taking the NLC President into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed.
It explained that Ajaero was only whisked away when miscreants hijacked the NLC Trade Union rally in Owerri.
However, Falana said the explanation given by the police was tainted with loopholes.
In a statement he signed, Falana wondered why the police failed to arrest the miscreants that brutalised the NLC President in their presence.
He said: “The police version of the brutalisation of the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajero is full of loopholes.
“Why did the police allow Comrade Ajero to be brutalised by the so-called miscreants? In other words, why did the police not protect him from the violent attack?
“So the police who witnessed the attack without making any arrest suddenly turned round to take the victim to the police clinic. The members of the public who decried the barbaric attack took pictures, which exposed the misleading version of the police.
“It is disturbing that the police justified the action of the so-called miscreants by saying that Comrade Ajero has disobeyed the order of a court. Why did the police not allow the court to purge Comrade Ajero of contempt of court?
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and ensure that the police officers who brutalised the NLC President are prosecuted without any delay.”
