The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), responsible for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Force, has been assigned to investigate the alleged assault on Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of the National Labour Congress (NLC), in Imo State last week by IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police.
Recall that the NLC’s President had led some labour leaders from Abuja to Imo State for protests against the government over alleged non-payment of salaries to some workers. But he was allegedly attacked and has been taking treatment since then.
The Labour leader claimed he was attacked by police officers from the Imo State Command.
Although, the Imo State Commissioner of Police claimed it only took the labour leaders into custody when hoodlums attacked him.
Following the attack, organised labour declared a complete strike in Imo State and issued a warning to extend it nationally next week if the police officers responsible for assaulting labour leaders were not held accountable.
However, in a statement on Friday, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said Egbetokun has directed the DIG to take over the investigation of the alleged assault on the NLC President to ascertain facts surrounding the incident and to address any ambiguities that may exist
Adejobi said this was because the Police had been inundated with different versions of the incident making investigations imperative to clear the conflicting accounts.
“The Nigeria Police Force understands the importance of transparency and accountability in maintaining public trust.
“The IGP therefore assures the public, most especially the leadership of the organized labour, that a thorough and unbiased inquiry will be conducted to provide clarifications while urging organized labour and the public to remain calm, as he has personally intervened to address the issues surrounding this incident.
“The investigation has commenced, and the Nigeria Police Force guarantees that it will be followed to a conclusive end, and appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of the investigation,” the Force spokesman concluded in the statement.