Some protesting pensioners were reportedly attacked today August 4 at the Imo government house, as they were beaten up by some suspected hoodlums.
The attack was said to have ensued after the protesting pensioners approached the Government House main gate.
The pensioners were left sobbing and shouting after being flogged by the thugs who were allegedly dispersed by a detachment of police operatives.
It was further learnt that the senior citizens fought back the attackers as some of their members particularly women sustained some injuries.
Commenting on the attack, one of the pensioners who identified himself as Dr. Ebenezer Ibekwe accused the state government of hiring thugs to disrupt their protest over unpaid pensions.
He said;
“How can you owe an old man like me and declare him a ghost pensioner and still don’t want me to demand my entitlements? Already, they detained our leaders using the DSS. The thugs they hired were flogging pensioners with canes because we said we are not ghost pensioners as they are tagging us”
However, the senior special assistant to Governor Hope Uzodimma on print media, Modestus Nwamkpa however denied allegation of the state government sending thugs to flog the pensioners. He also described the protest as an illegal one.
He said;
“Government has discovered that most of the protesters are not pensioners but members of the opposition being used to discredit the performances of the Hope Uzodimma administration in the state.”
This is the fifth time in less than a month the senior citizens are protesting against the non-payment of their pension and gratuities by Governor Hope Uzodinma led administration.
