By Milcah Tanimu

Medical professionals at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, are currently engaged in a battle to save the eyesight of Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Ajaero was reportedly apprehended by the Imo State Police Command while leading a protest in the state on Wednesday. However, the police command has claimed that they rescued him from a hostile crowd and placed him in protective custody.

In a viral video, Ajaero is seen sitting between two individuals as he is rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. In the video, he mentioned that he didn’t have a phone with him but had a relative working at FUTHO who he hoped could assist him.

Meanwhile, NLC officials have strongly condemned the incident, labeling it as an egregious attempted murder. Benson Upah, the NLC Head of Information and Publicity, described Ajaero’s treatment as an act of abduction that escalated into an attempted murder.

Upah stated, “We made contact with Congress President Joe Ajaero this evening at around 15:30 hours at the Police Hospital in Owerri, from where he was transferred to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, where he is receiving medical care. He was severely brutalized, and his right eye was completely swollen at the time of contact.”