President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero is currently receiving medical care at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, FUTHO in Imo State, after he was beaten by yet to be identified persons.
This is as the NLC president who many thought was arrested by the Nigerian Police Force yesterday, was rather rescued from the custody of mobs who had beaten him seriously and inflicted severe injuries on him especially on his right eye.
In an update, medical experts at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri said they are currently battling to save the eyes of the Labour Congress’ president.
Ajaero who was in Owerri, the Imo State capital to lead a protest in the state yesterday, was said to have been arrested by men of the Imo State Police Command and taken to an unknown destination.
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However, while several efforts to reach the president or ascertain his whereabouts proved abortive sequel to his arrest, the command said he was only rescued from a mob and put in protective custody.
In a viral video, Ajaero who was seen sitting between two men while he was being rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri said he didn’t have any phone on him, but had a relative in the employ of FUTHO who he hoped would be of assistance.
The NLC Head of Information and Publicity, Benson Upah, described the treatment of Ajaero as an act of abduction that degenerated into attempted murder.
In a statement released late Wednesday, Upah said, “Contact has been made with Congress President, Joe Ajaero, this evening around 15:30 hours at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he is receiving medical attention.
“Thoroughly brutalised, his (Ajeoro’s) right eye at the time of contact was completely shut.”