A meeting of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Abia State, has been disrupted by policemen who also arrested many officials of the union in Umuahia.
The NLC members who were meeting over a planned national rally over the proposed N340 hike in pump price of fuel, had commenced the meeting when a former chairman of the union in the state, Comrade Uchenna Obigwe, stormed the venue with over 20 policemen.
Obigwe who had been embroiled in a leadership tussle with his successor, Comrade Eze Idima,is said to have petitioned the Police over the meeting where the NLC national secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, was also expected.
Based on the petition, the Commissioner of Police, Mrs Janet Agbede, allegedly ordered that the meeting should not be held to avoid breakdown of law and other.
According to a source at the meeting, Obigwe was directing the Police on which the NLC members to arrest or release.
“Obigwe invaded our meeting with over 20 policemen. He was directing the police on whom to arrest. He came looking for the NLC national General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja and the Abia State NLC chairman, Comrade Eze Idima. When he did not see them at the meeting, he directed the police to arrest the state President of NULGE, NLC Desk officer and the chairman of the joint council. The three officials were taken away by the police. Many other members were also arrested but he asked the police to release them.Obigwe was not happy that Eze Idima and Emmanuel Ugboaja were not at the meeting because they were his target.
When the arrested officials were taken to the Police headquarters, the Commissioner of Police was said to have directed that the NLC in the state should have their meetings without the presence of Idima and Obigwe until the matter is resolved.
The CP further sued for peace among the union officials and ordered for the bail of the arrested officials.
