NLC Members Beaten Up By Policemen In Ebonyi

lice in Ebonyi State attacked and beat up members of
the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) who staged a peaceful
protest in the state against the increase in pump price by the
federal government.
The workers were intercepted near Pastoral Centre along the
Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway as they were on the peaceful
protest by a detachment of Police officers who proceeded to
attack the workers.
The Police, it was gathered, tear gassed the workers
ceaselessly and beat up leaders of the union including the
Chairman Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor who was seen rolling
on the ground as the Police officers kicked and beat him.
He was later bundled into the waiting white Police Hillux
van by four police officers and taken to the Police
Headquarters in Abakaliki alongside about 15 other labour
leaders.
The Police claimed the workers did not obtain Police
clearance to carry out the protest, an allegation debunked
by Comrade Nwafor.
The workers had gathered as early as 8am at their
secretariat along the expressway and took off on the protest
along the expressway.
On getting to the Pastoral Centre, the workers met a
detachment of Police Officers who unleashed an attack the
workers tear gassing them ceaselessly.
One of the Labour leaders, Comrade Greg Ishaya was seen
at the police Station with minor injuries on his hands from
the attack.
Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor was in pain as he sustained
serious knee injuries and was limping. He relied on the
support of other labour leaders to walk when our reporter
met him at the station after the attack.
The Police Commissioner in the State denied that the
workers were attack adding that the police used minimal
force to disperse the crowd adding that the protesters did
not inform the Police before embarking on the protest.
But Comrade Nwafor debunked the allegation adding that
the command duly informed the police of the protest.