The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reacted to the arrest of its president, Joe Ajaero, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The NLC chief was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while traveling to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.
Ajaero’s arrest came a few weeks after he was invited by the police for alleged terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime, and other related offences.
In a statement issued by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, the congress described the arrest as a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation.
It alleged that Ajaero was detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument.
The NLC expressed dismay that Ajaero’s whereabouts were unknown hours after his arrest.
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The statement read: “This morning, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was seized and whisked away by agents of the Nigerian State while on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.
“Comrade Ajaero was set to attend and address the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, a platform where critical discussions on workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness are discussed.
“We are yet to ascertain his whereabouts or his state of health as all efforts we have made to get in touch with him have proved abortive.
“We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive. His detention is therefore a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body.
“His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation. The mere contemplation of not just stopping a lawful citizen from travelling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers.”
The NLC demanded the immediate release of its president.
“In light of this troubling development, the Congress puts all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert. The Congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon. Accordingly, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of comrade Joe Ajaero,” it added.
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