The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Friday give the Federal Government a November 8 2023 strike notice over the attack on NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other union leaders in Imo State on Wednesday.

The unions, in a statement gave the government a six-point demand including the immediate removal of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State and Area Commander, among other officials, for their alleged complicity in the attack.

In addition, the unions also demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the attack, as well as compensation for the victims.

The labour unions also demanded a public apology from the Imo State Government and the Inspector-General of Police, as well as a guarantee that such an attack would never happen again.

The unions said they would embark on a nationwide strike if the government fails to meet their demands within the next five days.

On October 30, the NLC promised to ground activities in Imo from November 1, to protest the alleged violation of rights and privileges of workers.

Earlier on Wednesday, Comrade Benson Upah, media head of the NLC, said Comrade Ajaero was picked up from the Imo council secretariat of the NLC by heavily armed police officers.

“President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was picked up a few minutes ago from NLC state council secretariat by heavily armed policemen in Owerri and taken to an unknown destination,” Comrade Upah had said.

But the police command in Imo said its officers did not arrest Comrade Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC in Owerri, the state capital.

According to Mr. Henry Okoye, spokesperson of the Imo police command, said the NLC president had a heated argument with some individuals who resisted the picketing of the airport in the state.

Mr. Okoye said to prevent an attack on Comrade Ajaero, the police took the NLC president into protective custody at the state police headquarters.

“Upon receiving this report, the Imo police command swiftly deployed police operatives to the scene where the officer in charge exercised his operational discretion by taking the NLC president into protective custody at the state command headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed,” the Imo police spokesperson said.

“The commissioner of police thereafter directed that he should be taken to the Police Medical Services, Owerri, where he would be accorded medical attention as a result of the attack.

“He was therefore accorded adequate security cover to proceed on his other legitimate engagements for the day.

“It is however necessary to emphasize the existence of a court injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria holden in Owerri with Suit No. NICN/OW/41/2023 dated 27th October, 2023, barring the NLC from holding the intended protest rally in Owerri.

“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, therefore urges all concerned parties to ensure compliance with the Court directives so as to avoid jeopardizing the current security arrangements on Owerri and other parts of Imo State, even as the State gears up for the forthcoming electioneering process on 11th November 2023”, Mr. Okoye said.