The Nigeria Labour Congress has written the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, over the shooting of the Edo State Chairman of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Mr. Echichioya Godwin, during the strike called by labour last Wednesday.
The NLC is asking the police to tender an apology to the injured union leader, NUATE and the NLC for the injuries Echichioya sustained while mobilising workers for the suspended strike.
The General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. John Odah, said in a letter addressed to the IG that labour was also demanding compensation and the cost of treatment of the gunshot injury sustained by Echichioya.
A copy of the letter dated November 10, was made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday.
He condemned the shooting of the unionist by a police orderly attached to a High Court judge, stressing that the unarmed man did not make any attempt to assault the judge.
He called on the IG to take necessary measures to ensure that the shooting, which he described as ‘dastardly’, and utterly uncivilised’was redressed without delay.
The letter reads in part, “We wish to bring to your attention the dastardly and utterly uncivilised act carried out by one of your men in the Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police.
“We have been informed by our council in Edo State that this yet to be named officer, who is a security aide to a High Court judge, fired and shot Godwin, the Edo State Chairman of the NUATE when he led his union members to enforce the three-day warning strike called by the NLC at the Benin City Airport this morning.
“We understand that the policeman subsequently boarded an Arik Airline plane to Lagos.
“We condemn in very strong terms this unprovoked and senseless attack on Godwin who was not armed and did not make any attempt to physically attack the High Court judge but rather led his union members to carry out the enforcement of the strike as instructed by congress.
“We write to request that you take urgent steps to effect the immediate arrest, detention and prosecution of the policeman who carried out this senseless act.
“Congress is also demanding adequate compensation to Godwin for the assault, the injuries and cost of treatment he sustained and incurred in the course of this sad incident.”
“Finally, we demand that the police high command tender unreserved apologies to Godwin, his union, NUATE and the Nigeria Labour Congress for this act of violence.”
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011152373112
No comments:
Post a Comment