The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has provided details about the nighttime raid on its headquarters, the Labour House in Abuja, by armed security personnel on Wednesday.
In a statement, the NLC also called for an international investigation into the distressing incident.
Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, said, “We have directed all our staff to stay away from the Labour House for now until we are certain that there are no incriminating materials or harmful substances left in our offices by the invading operatives.”
The NLC urged the international community to recognize the worsening state of democratic principles in Nigeria, which it claims is veering towards a police state.
The statement describes the incident: “Last night at approximately 8:30 pm, after business hours, a group of heavily armed security operatives raided the Labour House, Central Business District, Abuja, which serves as the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).”
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The NLC report continues: “The security team included members of the Nigeria Police Force, individuals in black t-shirts, presumably from the Department of State Services (DSS), and others in plain clothes. They targeted the 10th floor, where they arrested the on-duty security guard and forced him to take them to the second floor to retrieve office keys. When the guard said he did not have the keys, they broke into the office, ransacked the bookshop on the second floor, and seized hundreds of books and publications, claiming they were searching for seditious materials related to the #EndBadGovernance protests.”
The NLC condemned the raid as a new low in Nigerian security operations. “The armed operatives displayed no legal documents authorizing their invasion of the NLC premises at such an unseemly hour. Even during the harshest periods of military rule, NLC offices were never subjected to such invasions. This is a disheartening day for our democracy.”
Earlier in the day, the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) had condemned the violent suppression of protesters and the mass arrests of protest leaders. The NEC had also criticized the misuse of the term ‘treason’ in describing the protests. The NLC was unprepared for the subsequent raid by masked, heavily armed security personnel.
In light of these developments and their implications for democratic rights, freedom of speech, and peaceful protest, the NLC has called for international attention to Nigeria’s deteriorating democratic principles.
The NLC expressed its concerns about state-enforced brutality, recalling recent threats to its leadership. “We fear the situation may worsen.”
The NLC has directed its staff to avoid the Labour House until it is confirmed that no incriminating or harmful materials have been left behind. It has demanded an international inquiry into the invasion and the immediate withdrawal of security forces from the premises. Furthermore, it has called for the return of all seized materials by the end of work on August 8, 2024.
“If this harassment persists, the NLC will not hesitate to instruct its members to stay home until their safety is guaranteed,” the statement warns. “The suppression of public discourse and avenues for constructive engagement in the face of Nigeria’s current hardships will only exacerbate the situation. Prompt action could still prevent further deterioration.”
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