Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered in-depth investigations into the events leading up to the attack and assault on Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of the National Labour Congress (NLC), in Owerri, Imo State, last week by thugs and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.
After assaulting and abusing Ajaero, he was brought to the hospital. The NLC threatened to shut down vital services in Imo State and shut down the entire nation in response to the act, which sparked uproar.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) was instructed by the IGP to take over the case “with the primary objective of ascertaining the facts surrounding the incident and to address any ambiguities that may exist as the Police has been inundated with different versions of the incident making investigations imperative to clear the conflicting accounts”, a statement released on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer read in part.
“The Nigeria Police Force understands the importance of transparency and accountability in maintaining public trust,” a force official said.
“Because he has personally intervened to address the issues surrounding this incident, the IGP, therefore assures the public, particularly the leadership of organised labour, that a thorough and impartial inquiry will be conducted to provide clarifications while urging organised labour and the public to remain calm.
“The Nigeria Police Force assures that the investigation will be carried out to its full conclusion and that appropriate measures will be implemented in light of the investigation’s findings”, the statement read in part.