- Pix above: IGP Kayode Egbetokun
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The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Imo, Mr Mohammed Barde, back to the Force Headquarters.
–NLC President Joe Ajaero in pains after police brutality in Imo
This is contained in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Monday in Abuja.
He said the redeployment of the CP ahead of the Nov. 11 governorship election in the state was in line with the IG’s commitment to ensure neutrality in the election.
Adejobi said the decision to reshuffle the CP underscores the Police Force’s unwavering dedication to upholding the rule of law throughout the electoral proceedings.
“This redeployment is not an indictment on the affected officer but a broader strategy aimed at bolstering security measures, promoting transparency and upholding the integrity of the electoral security management.
“The I-G is resolute in ensuring a secured environment for all stakeholders, political parties, candidates and citizens to participate in the electoral process,” he said.
Adejobi urged the electorate to cooperate with the police and other security agencies by adhering to the law to ensure a smooth and successful election. (NAN)
The State Online reports that the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was, Wednesday last week, arrested and brutalized in Owerri, Imo State capital, by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force under the removed commissioner’s command, ahead of the November 7 Imo guber election and was thereafter hospitalized following injuries given him.
NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah, said Ajaero was picked up at the state secretariat of the congress and taken to an unknown location.
“President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, was picked up a few minutes ago from NLC state council secretariat by heavily armed policemen in Owerri and taken to an unknown destination,” Upah told our correspondent via a text message.
The State Online further reports that the NLC had vowed to mobilise its members for a total strike in Imo State starting from November 1, 2023 to press home the inhuman treatment of non-payment of salaries and pension to the state’s workers.
Ajaero, during a press briefing on Sunday, had accused the Imo State Government of “violating the rights of the Nigerian workers in the state.”
Accusing the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, of neglecting workers’ welfare, Ajaero lamented that many of them have died because of the alleged lack of payment of their salaries.
He outlined some of the infractions against workers by Uzodimma to include the alleged refusal to implement previous agreements, especially the accord reached on January 9, 2021, outstanding salary arrears of about 20 months, unjust declaration of workers as ghost workers, declaration of pensioners as ghost workers and unsettled gratuity arrears, among others.
According to him, approximately 10,000 pensioners have been wrongly labeled as ghost pensioners resulting in over 22 months of unpaid pensions while about 11,000 workers have been branded by the Imo State Government as ghost workers.
The NLC president also lamented the non-compliance with the national minimum wage by the state government, adding that Governor Uzodinma has resisted the use of social dialogue and collective bargaining to resolve the issues.
Ajaero was however, left off the hook after his brutalization and eventual hospitalization at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. This much was revealed by Human Rights Lawyer/Activist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, in a WhatsApp Platform. Falana in the chat had said: “We have secured Comrade Ajaero’s release. But he is in the hospital as he was brutalised by the police.”/SHARE THIS
- Tags: IGP Kayode Egbetokun, CP Mohammed Barde ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, NPF, Gov Hope Uzodimma
