Medical experts at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, are currently working tirelessly to save the right eye of Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), following a confrontation with the Imo State Police Command.
The incident occurred during a protest in the state on Wednesday, leading to a viral video of Ajaero being rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri.
The Imo State Police Command has given a different account of the situation, claiming that they were rescuing Ajaero from a hostile mob and placing him in protective custody.
However, the NLC officials have strongly condemned the incident, labeling it an “act of abduction that degenerated into attempted murder.”
Benson Upah, the NLC Head of Information and Publicity, stated, “Contact has been made with Congress President, Joe Ajaero, this evening around 15:30 hours 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.”
The incident has sparked outrage and concerns among labor unions and human rights groups, who are demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ajaero’s injuries.
The NLC is calling for accountability and justice, while the Imo State Police Command’s version of events is expected to be scrutinized closely in the coming days.
