By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
Security agents on Wednesday night raided the Labour House in the Central Business District of Abuja.
Comrade Benson Upah
Head, Media and Public Relations of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in a statement, said the “invading troop claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance protests.”
Nigerians took to the streets on Aug. 1 to protest against economic hardship. The demonstrations are billed to last for 10 days.
The protests were hijacked and they degenerated into looting and vandalism in some states.
He said: “This evening at about 8.30pm 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 and arrested the security man on duty and then commandeered him to the second floor where he was asked to produce the keys to the offices.
“Just this afternoon, the National Executive Council of the NLC took note and vehemently condemned the highhanded manner that security agents manhandled protesters in many parts of the country and the needless bloodshed that ensued,” the statement reads.
“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 for moderation.
“What we did not see coming was the invasion of the Labour House by masked men and heavily armed security operatives hours later,” Upah said.
The statement added that the operatives arrested the NLC guard 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 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”.
It said it has directed its staff to stay away from the building until it is certain that there are no incriminating materials or harmful substances “dropped in our offices by the invading operatives”.
It also said there is a deterioration of democratic principles in Nigeria, and that there are attempts to turn the country into a police state.
“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.
“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 should 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.
“A stitch in time might still save nine!
