Two pensioners have been arrested in Umuahia by the Abia State Police Command for allegedly organising a protest against the state government over alleged unpaid pension arrears.
The arrested pensioners identified as Daniel Amugo and Chukwuemeka Augustus, who are chairman and secretary of a group called Abia State Concerned Pensioners were arrested by the Police on Thursday.
The Vice-Chairman of the group, John Kalu told newsmen that the police arrested the two people after their meeting with the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Aham Uko in his office.
Kalu disclosed that the group wanted to embark on a peaceful protest in the city and stressed that the Commissioner invited their leaders to his office for a meeting.
He said that they were in the meeting when the commissioner allegedly received a phone call, adding that shortly after the call, some police operatives met them on their way after the meeting and took them to the Umuahia Area Command.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissoner denied holding amy meeting with the pensioners in his office.
The Police Public Relations in the state, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna said the pensioners were arrested for impersonating the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Abia.
The police spokesperson said that the command received a petition accusing them of impersonation.
He said that the matter was being investigated, adding that the national leadership of NUP had disowned the protesters.