The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Nuhu Ribadu, has disclosed that investigations have commenced into the assault on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
The NSA, who confirmed this in a statement signed by the Head of Strategic Communication in his office, Zakari Mijinyawa, said some suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident which happened in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on November 1, 2023.
Persecondnews reports that the investigation and arrest of the suspects are coming in the wake of a nationwide indefinite strike declared by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which commenced Monday midnight, November 13.
Ajaero and other NLC members were in the state two weeks ago to join the state civil servants to protest “non-payment of salaries and pensions for 44 months and violation of other labour rights”, when he was assaulted.
The NLC and the TUC thereafter declared a nationwide strike demanding the arrest of the suspected thugs and their sponsors.
Confirming the arrests, Ribadu, a retired AIG, said the outcome of the investigation would be made public.
The statement said: “The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.
“The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
“The Federal Government will never condone such an act. As a fallout of the incident, relevant authorities were directed to conduct thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits.
“Available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.”
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