Medical experts at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri (FUTHO), the Imo State capital, are reportedly battling to save the eyes of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero.
Ajaero was said to have been arrested by men of the state Police Command while leading a protest in the state on Wednesday.
But the command said he was only rescued from a mob and put in protective custody.
In a statement on Wednesday, the state Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent Okoye Henry said: “During the planning stages, there were reports of proposals to lock down some crucial facilities, mainly the airport in the state.
“This action prompted some workers and other individuals to oppose the picketing process, which resulted in Pacifica altercations, furious arguments, and ultimately an attack on the NLC president by a mob.
“Following the receipt of this report, the Imo Police Command moved quickly to send police officers to the scene”.
In a viral video on Wednesday shortly after the incident, Ajaero was seen sitting between two men while being rushed to FUTHO.
In the video, the NLC boss said he did not have any phone on him, but had a relative in the employ of FUTHO who he hoped would be of assistance.
Meanwhile, the NLC officials condemned the incident as a heinous act of attempted murder.
The NLC Head of Information and Publicity, Comrade Benson Upah described Ajaero’s treatment as an act of abduction that degenerated into attempted murder.
Upah said, “Contact has been made with Congress President, Joe Ajaero, this evening around 15:30 hours at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he is receiving medical attention.
“Thoroughly brutalised, his (Ajeoro’s) right eye at the time of contact was completely shut”.
