Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday, ordered a thorough investigation into the recent alleged attack on the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State.
Egbetokun said the investigation had become imperative because the police high command had been inundated with different versions of the accounts of the incident.
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, quoted the IGP in a statement to have said, “The IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on the person of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
“The investigation has commenced and the Nigeria Police Force guarantees that it will be followed to a conclusive end, and appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.”
Some security operatives allegedly attached to the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, had reportedly descended on Ajaero during a protest last week in Owerri, the state capital.
The attack on Ajaero had angered the organised labour comprising NLC and TUC, making members of the movement to storm Force Headquarters on Thursday as well as both Abuja and Lagos airports and barred flights going to the State.
The IGP in his reaction to the organised labour’s demands, said the force under his supervision understands the importance of transparency and accountability in maintaining public trust.
Egbetokun, however, directed the Deputy-Inspector General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department to take over the matter with the primary objective of ascertaining the facts surrounding the incident.
The IGP also ordered the DIG to address any ambiguity that may exist, adding, “The police have been inundated with different versions of the incident making investigations imperative to clear the conflicting accounts.
“The IGP, therefore, assures the public, most especially the leadership of the organised labour, that a thorough and unbiased inquiry will be conducted to provide clarifications while urging organized labour and the public to remain calm, as he has personally intervened to address the issues surrounding this incident.”