'The beating I received' - NLC President Ajaero finally opens up

NLC president gives account of his experience during Imo protest

Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has explained his experience on the recent beating he received during a protest in Imo.

According to The Nation, the NLC president disclosed that he was arrested by the police in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, and subsequently handed over to about seven thugs who “beat him and dragged him on the floor like a common criminal.”

Ajaero gave the account of the incident at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, November 10.

He said that organised labour wrote to all relevant security agencies before they went ahead with the protest on Wednesday.

According to him, the workers arrived at the protest venue at about 7 am in the morning but were beaten up by the thugs and their phones were seized.

The NLC president added that he got there at about 9 am when he got the report of the assault on workers, adding that he was then arrested and handed over to the thugs who beat him. He clarified that he was not a card-carrying member of any political party.

How thugs beat me during protest in Imo, NLC president

His statement reads in part:

“I can’t explain the beating I received. They tied my hands and dragged me on the floor like a common criminal.”

Last week, the Ajaero has mobilised some members of organised labour to lead a protest in Imo State, where they were attacked by some thugs. Governor Hope Uzodimma on Thursday apologised to the union on behalf of the state.