Heavily armed security personnel raided the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) offices in Abuja on Wednesday evening, according to a union statement.
The operatives arrived to Labour House, the NLC’s headquarters, at 8:30 p.m.
“They broke in and ransacked the bookshop on the second floor, carting away hundreds of books and other publications,” said Benson Upah, the NLC’s Media and Public Relations Director.
The security forces reportedly claimed they were searching for seditious materials related to the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The NLC is still assessing the full extent of the items taken during the raid.
This incident occurred six days after the #EndBadGovernance protests began, drawing sharp criticism from the union. The NLC has demanded the immediate withdrawal of security operatives from its premises.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress condemns this new low in security operations in Nigeria. The armed operatives had no legal document permitting them to invade our premises in the dead of night,” the NLC stated.
“Even during 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.”
Press Release
7th August 2024
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 t-shirts presumably from the Department of State Services (DSS), and others in plain clothes, swooped on the 10th Floor of the NLC. They arrested the security operative on duty, commandeering him to the second floor and demanding keys to the offices. When he informed them he had no such keys, they broke into the 10th floor and ransacked the bookshop on the 2nd floor, carting away hundreds of books and other publications. The invading troop claimed they were searching for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The Nigeria Labour Congress condemns 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 dead of 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.
Earlier today, the National Executive Council of the NLC noted and vehemently condemned the high-handed manner in which security agents manhandled protesters in many parts of the country, leading to needless bloodshed. We also condemned the sweeping mass arrests of those perceived to have led the protest. The NEC criticized the reckless use of ‘treason’ to describe the protest and demanded moderation. We did not anticipate the invasion of Labour House by masked and heavily armed security operatives just hours later.
In light of this troubling development and its implications for democratic rights, freedom of speech and association, and the unimpeachable right of citizens to protest peacefully, we call on the international community to note the deterioration of democratic principles in Nigeria. Given recent experiences of the NLC leadership facing state brutality, including an assassination attempt on the NLC President by security operatives and thugs, our fears of Nigeria descending into enforced brutality are well-founded. We fear the situation may worsen.
Given these circumstances, the Nigeria Labour Congress has directed all its staff to stay away from Labour House until we are certain there are no incriminating materials or harmful substances left by the invading operatives. To allay our fears, we demand an international inquiry into this traumatic invasion.
Finally, we demand the immediate withdrawal of the invading security agents from Labour House, Abuja. We also demand that all books and materials taken by the security operatives be returned by the end of work tomorrow, 8th August 2024. This demand is made due to 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. The asphyxiation of public space and channels for constructive engagement, dialogue, and negotiation amid the current hardships faced by Nigerians will only exacerbate the situation. A stitch in time might still save nine!
Comrade Benson Upah
Head, Media and Public Relations
Nigeria Labour Congress
