The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday alleged an invasion of its headquarters by security men, who carted away some publications from its library.
The labour centre said those who carried out the raid on Wednesday night were policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and another unnamed security outfit. It added that most of them wore black T-shirts.
The DSS denied involvement. But the police kept mum.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command referred our correspondent to the Force Headquarters.
But many calls to police spokesman DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi went unanswered. He also did not reply SMS sent to him.
The NLC in a statement said: “A team made up of heavily armed security operatives invaded the Labour House, Central Business District, Abuja, which serves as the national headquarters and secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
“The security operatives, some from the Nigeria Police Force, some wearing black T-shirts, presumably from the Department of State Services (DSS), and others on outright mufti, swooped on the 10th floor of the NLC, arrested the security operatives on duty, and then commandeered them to the second floor, where they were asked to produce the keys to the offices.
“When they told them that they had no such keys, they broke into the floor and ransacked the bookshop on the 2nd floor, carting away hundreds of books and other publications. The invading team claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernanceProtests.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress condemns in its entirety this new low in security operations in Nigeria. The armed security operatives showed no legal document permitting them to invade the premises of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the ungodly hours of the night. Even in the dark days of military rule, NLC secretariats were never invaded and ransacked by security agents. Today is indeed a very sad day for our democracy.
“The National Executive Council of the NLC took note and vehemently condemned the high-handed manner in which security agents manhandled protesters in many parts of the country and the needless bloodshed that ensued.
‘’We also condemned the sweeping mass arrests of those perceived to have led the protests. The NEC also frowned at the reckless use of ‘treason’ to describe the protest and demanded moderation. ‘’What we did not see coming was the invasion of the Labour House by masked and heavily armed security operatives hours later.
“In the light of the foregoing and the ominous sign it portends for democratic rights, freedom of speech and association, and the unimpeachable right of citizens to protest peacefully on any issue they feel strongly about, we call on the international community to take note of the deterioration of democratic principles in the bid to turn Nigeria into a police state.
“Given the experience of the leadership of the NLC in recent times at the receiving end of the naked brute force of the state, especially the near daylight assassination of the NLC President(Joe Ajaero) by security operatives and thugs, our fears of a Nigerian state that is descending into enforced brutality are well founded. We fear that the situation might deteriorate.
“Given the state of things, the Nigeria Labour Congress has directed all its staff to stay away from the Labour House for now until we are certain that there are no incriminating materials or harmful substances dropped in our offices by the invading operatives.
‘’In order to allay our fears, we demand an international inquiry into this very traumatic invasion.
“We demand the immediate withdrawal of the troop of invading security agents from the premises of the Labour House, Abuja. We also demand that all the books and materials carted away by the invading security operatives be returned unfailingly to where they were taken from before the end of work tomorrow, August 8, 2024.
‘’We make this demand given the illegality of the operation, as there was no court order for the invasion, ransacking, and looting of the publications.
“If this harassment continues, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not hesitate to call on its members to stay home until their safety and security are assured. We warn that the asphyxiation of the public space and channels for constructive engagement, dialogue, and negotiations in light of the excruciating difficulties that Nigerians are going through right now would only make matters worse. A stitch in time might still save nine.”
Also yesterday, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) condemned the invasion and called on the Federal Government to immediately investigate the incident.
TUC President Festus Osifo said in a statement that the confiscation of books and publications from the NLC facility raises serious concerns about the violation of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and expression.
“This action represents an overreach by security forces and poses a threat to the democratic principles that allow for peaceful dissent and free expression. We consider this invasion a direct attack on the rights of Nigerian citizens to freely express their views and to access information,” Osifo added.
He added that ‘’those responsible for authorising and executing this operation must be held accountable.’’
Source: The Nation
