The recent invasion of the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja by security agents in search of a foreign terrorism suspect is unwarranted, disgusting and highly condemnable. The Gestapo-style raiding of the Labour House in midnight and ransacking of NLC documents and property without prior notice is intimidating, brutal and unbecoming of security forces in a democratic dispensation. Such raids can be tolerated in fascist and authoritarian regimes but not in a democratic government.
According to NLC spokesman, Benson Upah, the security operatives broke into the second floor, ransacking the bookshop and seizing hundreds of books and other publications. “The invading troop claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance Protests.” he stated.
Initially, there was suspicion that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) carried out the raid. However, the DSS quickly refuted the allegation, stating that its operatives were not involved in the operation. The DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, clearly and emphatically stated that the security agency did not carry out any operation at the NLC headquarters.
Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force in a bid to exonerate its officers of the action clarified that its personnel did not raid the NLC headquarters as widely believed but were after a wanted foreign national suspected to be involved in several criminal activities within and outside the country.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, said: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to clarify that a prime criminal suspect in an ongoing investigation was traced to a shop within the building in the Central Business District, Abuja. Detectives, armed with the appropriate legal authority, conducted an operation at the location, which turned out to be the NLC building. This well-coordinated, lawful operation was solely aimed at apprehending the prime suspect—a foreign national implicated in numerous criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.”
“We emphasize that this operation had no connection with the NLC, its Secretariat, staff, or leadership. The NLC Secretariat was not the focus of the operation, which was targeted at a rented shop within the building used by the suspect as a front for his criminal activities in Nigeria,” Adejobi stated.
Despite the belaboured explanation by the police, many Nigerians, groups and organizations have condemned the needless raid. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and prosecution of those involved. The TUC also pointed out that the raid represents an overreach by security forces and poses a threat to democracy and freedom of expression. To the TUC, the invasion is a direct attack on the rights of Nigerian citizens to freely express their views and access information. Also, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has denounced the raid on the NLC headquarters and described it as a shameful and lawless act.
Meanwhile, the NLC has rejected the police explanation on the incident, describing it as “an afterthought and an attempt to cover the hidden motives behind the raid. Labour believes that the explanation raises more questions than answers. It also noted that even during the dark days of military rule, its secretariat was never subjected to such an invasion.
We condemn the unacceptable raid on NLC headquarters even when the NLC had dissociated itself from the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests that lasted from August 1-10. The incident coming at a time there seems to be a rapprochement between the government and Labour is uncalled for. We also call for a thorough investigation of the circumstances that led to the invasion. Those involved in the dastardly act must be fished out and sanctioned.
The police should reveal to Nigerians the identity of the foreign national terrorism suspect that reportedly led to the raid on NLC headquarters. As a known organization, the NLC does not in any way deserve the humiliating treatment meted to it by the police. Moreover, the officials of NLC are known to the government and security agents. Dispatching security operatives to the headquarters of the NLC at odd hours is below what Nigerians expect from the police. The police should work and be for the people.
While enjoining the police to stop further harassment of #EndBadGovernance protesters, Nigerians and labour officials, we urge them to return to NLC all documents and materials seized during the raid. Security agencies, including the police should respect human rights of all Nigerians in discharging their duties.