Democracy Day: Ebonyi workers protest after attack by police

Hundreds of workers under the umbrella of Organised Labour in Ebonyi state on Tuesday staged a walk out during the Democracy Day event held at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township stadium, Abakaliki. The walk-out followed police assault on the workers who were beaten up and teargassed while attempting to enter the venue of the event. […]

Hundreds of workers under the umbrella of Organised Labour in Ebonyi state on Tuesday staged a walk out during the Democracy Day event held at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township stadium, Abakaliki.

The walk-out followed police assault on the workers who were beaten up and teargassed while attempting to enter the venue of the event.

The state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Leonard Nkah, confirmed the incident to journalists in the presence of his Secretary, Comrade Chukwuma Onwe and other executives members including members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

He said that some of the union members sustain injuries from the action of the overzealous policemen.

"Today, we were not allowed to enter the venue; the security men stopped me and my members. They asked me to cross alone but I felt that there are areas to occupy and in attempt to cross the gate with my members, we were teargassed and beaten by the security men", he said.

Nkah, who became the state chairman of NLC in a controversial circumstance following the impeachment of Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor, said the police action is uncalled for.

He cited that similar action had sometime last week been meted on him and his members at a public function.

"So, l don’t know how, even when we come to programme that we were dually invited, we will not see our names nor be allowed to enter.

"We are not happy, this is the second time we have been teargassed by the security men and as it stands now we are walking away from the stadium to our various homes", he said.