MWUN condemns attack on members, demands release of NLC president
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has condemned an attacked it said left two of its national officers, Comrade Abubakar Bello(Vice President General), and Comrade Abudu Eroje (Deputy Secretary General) seriously injured during an attack on the Nigeria Labour Congress secretariat in Imo state.
A statement on Wednesday by the Head of Media of the MWUN, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, said the Union also demanded the immediate release of the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, who was arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Imo State Command, in the wake of Wednesday morning after the Labour Congress reportedly mobilised for a mass demonstration in the state.
The Union said that the officers were brutally attacked, and in the process they did not only sustain injuries, but also lost valuables including their phones, money and important document.
Describing the development as an “abuse of power” the Union said: ” MWUN condemns the arbitrary arrest and illegal detention of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Ajaero, by members of the Nigeria Police Force, Imo State Police Command. The abuse of power is unwarranted, illegal and downright inimical to the foundational tenets of democracy and its attendant civil liberties.”
The Union insisted that it was within its legitimacy to call for a mass demonstration in Owerri, to liberate the ordinary citizens of the State, who they said were suffering hardship.
According to the Union, some miscreants had arrived the NLC’s secretariat soon after it opened office Wednesday morning and attacked members who were found there.
It continued that several persons were seriously injured as a result of the mayhem.
The Union said it was surprised that the NLC President who was not at the scene initially when the incident happened, was later arrested and taken away by the police officers of the Imo State Command.
It demanded that the perpetrators be apprehended and brought to book.
