NLC raises alarm over invasion by security operatives

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised the alarm over the invasion of its national secretariat in Abuja by heavily armed security operatives.

Head, Media and Public Relations, NLC, Benson Upah, in a statement at midnight, alleged that the security operatives comprised officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and others who were on outright mufti swooped on the 10th floor of the NLC and arrested the security man on duty, where he was commandeered to the second floor and was asked to produce the keys to the offices,

Upah alleged that when the security man on duty told the officers that he had no such keys on him, they broke into the floor and ransacked the bookshop on the second floor carting away hundreds of books and other publications.

According to him, the invading troop claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGoveranance Protests.

Stating that the NLC condemns in its entirety the new low in security operations in Nigeria, he alleged that the armed security operatives showed no legal document permitting them to invade the premises of the NLC in the ungodly hours of the night.

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“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,” he said.

He said earlier in the day, the NLC, at its National Executive Council (NEC), had vehemently condemned the high-handed manner in which security agents manhandled protesters in many parts of the country and the needless bloodshed that ensued.

He said the NEC had also condemned the sweeping mass arrests of those perceived to have led the protest, while it 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,” he said.

To this end, Upah said the NLC 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. To allay our fears, we demand an international inquiry into this very traumatic invasion.

“Finally, 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, 8th August 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.”