How I was beaten like a criminal in Imo – NLC President, Ajaero

Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has recounted the brutal treatment he endured while in police custody following his arrest in Owerri, Imo State. Ajaero suggests divine intervention might have spared his life due to the severe beatings he suffered during his detention.

This incident occured amidst the chaos caused by unruly individuals disrupting the NLC’s protest in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. Ajaero had journeyed to Owerri with the objective of rallying Imo workers for a major protest against the alleged infringement and mistreatment of workers’ rights and privileges by the state government.

The protest escalated into violence, prompting the intervention of the Nigeria Police Force, which subsequently apprehended Ajaero. Upon his release, Ajaero revealed that the police had menacingly threatened to take him to court.

Ajaero explained, “If you say interim order, it elapses with time; if the court issues another one, then it’s a different thing. I told them interim order ends within one week or two; they now kept the letter and told me they can prosecute me. I told them it’s the same court that can institute a contempt charge; you just can’t start prosecuting me. They beat me; God must have taken extra time to create me because of the kind of beating I received.”