The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has taken decisive action in response to the controversy surrounding the treatment of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, in Imo State. On Sunday, in Abuja, the IGP announced the redeployment of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Stephen Olanrewaju.
This decision comes in the wake of the incident in which Ajaero was apprehended by heavily armed police officers during a non-violent rally at the NLC secretariat in Owerri and subsequently placed in custody. The NLC alleged that Ajaero endured mistreatment, including being blindfolded, physically assaulted, and threatened with death by the police.
In response to these allegations and the public outcry, organized labor had given the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace the Commissioner of Police. The IGP’s redeployment decision underscores the seriousness of the situation and the need to address the concerns surrounding the incident.
Egbetokun said: “I am aware that there have been allegations on social media against the Commissioner of Police in Imo State but for this election, we are changing the commissioner of police in Imo.”
He added that Olanrewaju has not been found guilty of any of the allegations against him but would be redeployed in a bid to ensure neutrality in the election.