Police bow to pressure, launch probe into attacks on NLC president
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged attack on the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
Egbetokun explained that the investigation became imperative because the police high command had been inundated with ambiguity of different versions of the narratives regarding the incident.
“The IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on the person of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero.”
“The 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,” the spokesman of the Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, quoted the top cop as having said.
Daily Trust had reported how some security operatives allegedly attached to the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, descended on Ajaero during a protest in November in
Owerri, the state capital.
The development had angered the organised labour comprising NLC and TUC, making members of the movement to storm the Force Headquarters on Thursday as well as both Abuja and Lagos airports and barred flights going to the state.
Reacting to the organised labour’s demands, the IGP said the force, which he is supervising, understands the importance of transparency and accountability in maintaining public trust.
The IGP, however, directed the DeputyInspector General in charge of the Force Criminal
Investigation Department to take over the matter with the primary objective of ascertaining the facts surrounding the incident.
He also ordered the DIG to address any ambiguity that may exist.
Adejobi, a Commissioner of Police, said: “The IGP, therefore, assures the public, especially the leadership of the organised labour, that a thorough and unbiased inquiry will be conducted to provide clarifications while urging organized labour and the public to remain calm, as he has personally intervened to address the issues surrounding this incident.”