By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to probe the assault on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero.
Last week, Ajaero was battered by persons he said included thugs and policemen acting allegedly on the command of one Chinasa Nwaneri, an aide to the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma.
NLC and TUC have since paralysed economic activities in Imo State and have vowed to shut down the country on November 14 if the government fails to arrest and prosecute all those involved in the attack on Ajaero.
In what appears to be a response to the ultimatum, the Nigeria Police Force issued a statement titled: ‘ALLEGED ASSAULT OF NLC PRESIDENT: IGP WADES IN, CHARGES DIG FCID ON THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.’
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The statement, signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, reads: “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has ordered investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on the person of the President of the National Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
“Consequently, he has directed the Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department to take over the matter with the primary objective of ascertaining the true 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.
“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.”
