Amosun Sends Thugs To ‘Beat Up’ Striking Workers In Abeokuta
Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun State Governor[/caption]
Civil servants in Ogun state have alleged that thugs believed to be loyalists of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, beat up public servants and labour union leaders in Abeokuta after embarking on a state-wide strike on Thursday.
THE WHISTLER recalls that governor Amosun had, on Wednesday, hurled abusive words at workers in the state after they threatened to embark on a strike.
The civil servants were allegedly beaten up by the said thugs after they gathered at the secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Abeokuta around 8am.
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“The thugs came in a Toyota Camry and some others came on motorcycles; they descended on union leaders and some of us who had gathered at the secretariat, beating us blue, black,” said one of the workers who spoke to newsmen on the condition of anonymity.
“The thugs covered the number plate of the car, in order to shield the identity of the owner from being traced. This is sad.
“They attacked our members at Laderin Estate, Kuto Roundabout and Oke Ilewo.”
The Ogun state NLC chairman, Akeem Ambali, also confirmed the attack on workers and labour leaders who came out to demonstrate the strike action.
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“This is the first time in the history of this state that workers will be attacked by the agents of the state. We have heard that some people have hired some thugs to attack us. But we thought it was all a rumour. But we were shocked this morning when some thugs came in a black Toyota Camry with number plate LND 555 BD to the place where the labour leaders were standing at Kuto roundabout,” said Ambali.
“They attacked our members at Kuto, Oke Ilewo and Laderin Housing Estate.
“They beat up two labour leaders, Comrade Benco and Comrade Olayemi, among others.
“The NLC office has been sealed off by 30 armed men, but I have gathered that two cultists have been trailing me.
“My life is not safe and I have gone underground. My life is not safe with this government,” he added.
