The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on the President of the National Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero.
This was made known in a statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
TheFact Daily recalls that the Police in Nigeria had, on Thursday, November 2, come under heavy criticism following allegations that they detained and assaulted the leader of the country’s largest trade union, whose officials claimed that “big blows to the head” were inflicted on him. The attack took place during a protest on Wednesday, November 1 in Owerri, the capital of south-eastern Imo State. Police however denied the allegations, saying they took Mr Ajaero into custody to save him from a mob attack. Local media reported that the union leader was later released, and he immediately went to receive medical treatment for facial injuries. A video of a wounded Mr Ajaero also emerged on social media, prompting criticism of the police from many Nigerians.
Wading in, IGP Egbetokun directed the Deputy Inspector 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 and to address any ambiguities that may exist as the Police have been inundated with different versions of the incident making investigations imperative to clear the conflicting accounts.
“The Nigeria Police Force understands the importance of transparency and accountability in maintaining public trust. The IGP, therefore assures the public, most especially the leadership of the organized 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”, the statement said.
The Force assured that the matter would be followed to a conclusive end, and appropriate actions would be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
