November 11, (THEWILL) – The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered investigation into circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the development to newsmen in Owerri, Imo State capital.
“Consequently, he has directed the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, to take over the matter with the primary objective of ascertaining the true facts surrounding the incident.
“The DIG is to address any ambiguities that may exist as the Police have been inundated with different versions of the incident making investigation imperative to clear the conflicting accounts.
“The Nigeria Police Force understands the importance of transparency and accountability in maintaining public trust”, Adejobi said on Friday.
The Force Spokesman reiterated the IGP’s assurances to the public, especially the leadership of organised labour, that a thorough and unbiased inquiry will be conducted to provide clarifications.
Adejobi urged organised labour and the public to remain calm, as the IGP has personally intervened to address the issues surrounding the incident.
“Investigation has commenced, and the Nigeria Police Force guarantees that it will be followed to a conclusive end, and appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of the investigation”, he said.
THEWILL recalls that suspected thugs, allegedly aided by security operatives in Imo, on Wednesday, November 1, brutalised Ajaero.
The NLC President, other national leaders of NLC and TUC, were at the state Secretariat in Owerri to protest among other grievances, the backlog of unpaid salaries and allowances, pensions, gratuities, and non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act.
