The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Joe Ajaero, has described a troubling event in which he was beaten and threatened for opposing Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma.
“I can’t explain the beating they gave me; they tied me up and were hitting me, asking me why I was challenging Gov’ Hope Uzodinma,” Ajaero said in a startling admission.
Providing a harrowing account of the events, Ajaero disclosed that around 9 a.m., he traveled to Owerri with approximately twenty security personnel. His intention was to address the press on the situation in Imo State at the NLC Secretariat. However, the situation took a dark turn when the police, accompanied by others, withdrew the security personnel meant for their protection.
The NLC Chairman recounted, “The police led other people, and they withdrew about 20 security personnel that were there to protect us. And then the policeman arrested me and handed me over to thugs, and one of his sergeants or inspectors, I don’t know, said, ‘Oga, why don’t you take him instead of handing him over to these people?’ and he shouted at the sergeant and told him to shut up.”
Ajaero continued, describing how he was forcefully dragged on the floor, taken to Imo, and subjected to severe beating by about seven individuals. “They tied my nose and my eyes, and they were hitting me, asking me why I was challenging Hope Uzodinma. And they asked me to say my last prayers: They were taking me to a river, and that is where they will dump my body.”
