MWUN condemns attack on NLC president, Ajaero; MWUN members in Owerri
...union says battered members under intensive care
Segun Oladipupo
The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has condemned in strong terms, the battering of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) members in Imo State as they prepare for a mass showdown in Owerri, the state capital.
In a release, MWUN described the ignominy as an avoidable act of human rights violation.
The union also condemned what it refers to as the arbitrary arrest and illegal detention of the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) -Comrade Joe Ajaero by members of the Nigeria Police Force, Imo State Police Command.
MWUN maintained that such abuse of power is unwarranted, illegal and downright inimical to the foundational tenets of democracy and its attendant civil liberties.
Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna stated in the release that some of the representatives of the Maritime workers at the proposed rally, Comrade Abubakar Bello (Vice President General), and Comrade Abudu Eroje (Deputy Secretary General) who were said to be brutally attacked, sustaining grave injuries and losing valuables such as their phones, money and important documents.
He said the two representatives were as at the time of this press release, were still in intensive care.
Text of the release, “It is pertinent to note that the call for a mass demonstration in Owerri by the Nigeria Labour Congress Is as legitimate as it is necessary to liberate the ordinary citizens of the State who are gnashing their teeth, writhing in pains from the unprecedented level of suffering being meted on them by the State.
“No sooner had the Nigeria Labour Congress state secretariat located in Owerri, Imo State opened for the business of the day i.e mobilizing its members for the scheduled mass demonstration than urchins arrived the venue and began to unleash mayhem and havoc in a calculated and deliberate move to prevent the NLC scheduled mass demonstration from taking off. As a result of these acts of violent assault by these obviously sponsored thugs, several individuals sustained serious and near-fatal injuries, with some of them rushed to the hospital for emergency care.
“As a social partner and affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria naturally gave its solidarity support to the call for mass demonstration as directed by the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress especially in consideration of the fact that the President General of MWUN – Comrade (Prince) Adeyanju Adewale is a Deputy President of the Congress.
“Unfortunately, two national officers of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria: Comrade Abubakar Bello (Vice President General), and Comrade Abudu Eroje (Deputy Secretary General) were brutally attacked, sustaining grave injuries and losing valuables such as their phones, money and important documents. As at the time of this press release, these officers are still in intensive care.
“The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress who was not at the secretariat during the initial attack arrived later to take stock of the situation and was beaten blue-black by the sponsored urchins who were still at the premises.
“Surprisingly, he was arrested by the Police and taken to an unknown destination.
“Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria unequivocally condemns in the strongest of terms this attack, molestation and assault on its officials and the president of the NLC by these sponsored thugs as well as the illegal arrest of the NLC president by the Nigeria Police, Imo State Police Command. The MWUN hereby calls on the Imo State government and the Nigerian Police to apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to book as well as the immediate release of the NLC president so as to forestall further crises.”
