NSA expresses concerns over brutalizing of NLC President, Ajero, says perpetrators arrested

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, on Wednesday, said that his office is concerned over the brutalizing of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajero, in Imo State by security operatives on November 1, 2023.

Ribadu, In a statement by the Head of Strategic Communication in the NSA Office, Zakari Mijinyawa, disclosed that some suspects have been arrested in connection to the assault of the NLC President in Owerri, Imo State. He ordered thorough investigation into the incident, noting that it is against the rule of law and freedom of expression.

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According to the statement, Ribadu “regrets the incident” on Ajaero and “condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.

“As a fallout of the incident, relevant authorities were directed to conduct thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits.

“Available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard.

“The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.

“The Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, therefore, appeals to the labour leadership to call off the current strike action and allow the dialogue process underway to be exhausted.”

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered thorough investigation into the assault of the NLC President, and had also redeployed the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Mohammed Barde.

The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, speaking ob Channels Television on Wednesday morning, declared that the Organised Labour has no confidence in the investigation conducted by the Inspector General of Police, demanding that the NSA should handle the investigation.

Osifo was cited to have stated: “The office of the NSA should lead this investigation; it should not even be the Inspector General of Police because in this particular subject, we also feel that the IGP is compromised.”