The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has been arrested in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Ajaero was picked up from the NLC State Council Secretariat by heavily armed policemen and taken to an unknown destination.
The arrest comes days after the National Industrial Court restrained the NLC and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) from carrying out any protest in the state.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, and Comrade Nuhu Toro, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said the Imo state government has continued to use violence and intimidation against trade unions and their leadership in the state.
“Just as Nigerian workers gathered earlier this morning led by the leadership of the two labour centres to demonstrate our outrage over the serial and habitual abuse and violation of the rights of workers in the state; the Government unleashed blood-cuddling mayhem on the workers,” they said.
NLC said that Ajaero was beaten by police officers and thugs hired by the state government, noting that he was also bundled into a police van and taken to an unknown destination.
