National Labour protest: Police Zone 8 warns against violence.
IDRIS AHMED, LOKOJA.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, in charge of Zone 8 Headquarters, Lokoja, AIG Babatunde B. Ishola, has appealed to the organized Labour in Kogi State for a peaceful protest scheduled for Wednesday.
The Kogi state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP William Aya, stated in a press release that the appeal was made on Tuesday during a meeting with the Labour Leaders in Lokoja.
He stated that the meeting was aimed at advising the Labour Union to conduct themselves within the context of the law, noting that, hoodlums may seize the opportunity and hijack the process.
On his part the Commissioner of Police Kogi State Police Command, CP Onuoha Bethra commended the AIG for the prompt meeting which he allayed fears that the peaceful protest could be hijacked by the hoodlums.
He further appealed to the Labour Leaders to collaborate with the Security Agencies so as to deny trouble makers the opportunity to strike, assuring of adequate Security deployment during the protest.
In his reaction, the Kogi State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Amari Gabriel assured the AIG that the organized Labour in the State are law abiding and will do their best to ensure a peaceful protest.
He disclosed that they are obeying the National directive for all the State Chapters of the Labour Union to embark on a National protest and therefore assured that the protest in the state will be peaceful as hoodlums will not be part of the process.
He explained that as part of the measures to dissuade infiltrators, members of the Labour Union will appear on their uniforms, while those who do not have the uniform will be issued with tags for easy identification.
Also the Kogi State TUC Chairman, Comrade Ahmed Sule Tijani, disclosed that the purpose of the protest is to let the Government know that, Labour is the hope of a common man, however assured a peaceful protest.
Other senior Officers at the meeting include, DCP Atabor Nosa Festus Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration zone 8 Headquarters Lokoja, ACP Ajao Olusegun, Assistant Commissioner of Investigation, Zone 8 Headquarters Lokoja, ACP Sunday Omonijo Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations zone 8 Headquarters Lokoja as well as Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Vice Chairman NLC Kogi State among others.
