NLC raises alarm as armed security operatives raid headquarters in Abuja

In a dramatic and unprecedented turn of events, heavily armed security operatives stormed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters (Labour House) in Abuja at approximately 8:30 PM on August 7, 2024, long after the workday had ended.

According to a statement made available by NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Comrade Benson Upah, the Labour House was invaded by a mix of personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and unidentified operatives dressed in plain clothes.

“The security team, without presenting any legal documents, apprehended the security operative on duty and forced him to the building’s second floor. Despite our security men’s responses to their questions about not having access to the office keys, the operatives proceeded to break into the premises and ransack the NLC’s bookshop. They seized hundreds of books and other publications, alleging that they were searching for seditious materials related to the #EndBadGovernance protests.” The statement highlighted.

The NLC has strongly condemned the raid, calling it a severe infringement on democratic rights and freedoms. The Congress emphasised that even during the military regime, such invasions of their headquarters were unheard of. This action, they argue, marks a new low in security operations in Nigeria and a dangerous precedent for the nation’s democracy.

Earlier that day, the NLC’s National Executive Council meeting had denounced the heavy-handed tactics used by security forces against protesters and the use of “treason” to describe peaceful demonstrations. “The timing of the raid, just hours after this condemnation, has further fuelled fears of state-sponsored repression.”

The NLC therefore called for an international investigation into the invasion, citing concerns over the safety of their staff and the potential tampering with evidence. They have instructed their employees to stay away from the Labour House until a thorough inspection confirms that no incriminating materials or harmful substances have been planted by the intruding forces.

In their statement, the NLC demanded the immediate withdrawal of the security forces from their premises and the return of all seized materials by the end of the workday on August 8, 2024. They have warned that continued harassment will lead them to consider a full strike, stressing that suppressing public discourse and engagement only exacerbates the country’s difficulties.

The statement further voiced a stark warning about the dangers of further suppressing democratic engagement and constructive dialogue in Nigeria, urging prompt action to restore order and protect citizens’ rights.

The statement in full reads: “This evening, at about 8.30 p.m., long after the close of work, a troop 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 tee-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 operative on duty, and then commandeered him to the second floor, where he was asked to produce the keys to the offices.

“When he told them that he had no such keys on him, they broke into the floor and ransacked the bookshop on the 2nd floor, carting away hundreds of books and other publications. The invading troops 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 protest. 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 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!”