By our Correspondents
Workers of Imo State, and Labour leaders including journalists were brutalised by some state organised security officials on Wednesday 1 November.
One person was feared killed and many others including journalists were injured as well as the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, who is hospitalized at the Federal Medical Centre Owerri.
Trouble Started when the NLC and TUC officials and gathered at the Imo state secretariat to mobilize workers for the strike scheduled for today Thursday , when thugs invaded the place .
The thugs descended on Labour leaders and other protesters, smashing vehicles, inflicting injuries and dispossessing handsets, money, ATM cards among other valuables from labour leaders and others that had gathered at the NLC State secretariat to begin the scheduled protest over pending labour issues.
It was a rowdy sight as union leaders and Journalists scampered for safety.
However, the workers reassembled at the Secretariat but this time led by the NLC president and General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja to commence the protest.
This time some police officers with other hooded security personalities stormed the venue shooting indiscriminatelly causing everyone to scamper for safety.
In the ensuing melee , one unionist was alleged to have died while others including journalists were injured. Working tools of journalists were either destroyed or seized.
The NLC President Joe Ajaero was taking away to an undisclosed place where he was thoroughly brutalised by state induced security personalities.
He right eye was completely shut and has other body injuries.
Ajaero, who could barely speak gave an account of how he was blindfolded and taken to an undisclosed place where he was brutalised.
His phones, money and other personal effects were taken from him and have not been returned to him.
He was first treated at the police hospital before being transferred to the Federal Medical Center Owerri.
Meanwhile the Imo State Government is absolving itself from the incidents .
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba said in Owerri on Wednesday that those accusing the government of arresting the NLC President were perennial mischief makers always crying wolf where there is none.
Reacting on the incident the Police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, said, contrary to the reports, the police did not arrest the NLC president but was taken into protective custody.
He said there was disagreement between labour and some of individuals who were against shutting down the airport and other facilities, which led to fracas and police had to step in to prevent breakdown of law.
