Imo: Falana calls for arrest, prosecution of police officers who beat NLC President

Nigerian human rights activist, Femi Falana, has urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to take swift action in ensuring that the officers responsible for the alleged brutalization of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, are apprehended and prosecuted.

Falana’s call for justice comes in response to the police’s statement regarding Ajaero’s arrest during the NLC’s rally in Owerri, Imo State on Wednesday, a statement which Falana found deeply flawed.

The police, in their statement, denied having arrested the NLC president, asserting that Ajaero was merely taken away when the rally was disrupted by unruly elements.

However, Falana, in a statement he personally issued, questioned the police’s account, expressing bewilderment at their failure to arrest the miscreants who had brutally assaulted Ajaero, especially given that they were present at the scene.

He asked, “Why did the police allow Comrade Ajero to be brutalized by the so-called miscreants? In other words, why did the police not protect him from the violent attack?”

The human rights advocate also cast doubt on the police’s actions, stating, “So the police, who witnessed the attack without making any arrest, suddenly turned around to take the victim to the police clinic. The members of the public who decried the barbaric attack took pictures, which exposed the misleading version of the police.”

Falana expressed concern about the police’s justification of the miscreants’ actions by citing Ajaero’s alleged disobedience of a court order. He questioned why the police didn’t allow the court to address the issue of contempt of court.