The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly detained Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), at Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Ajaero was on his way to the United Kingdom for a Trade Union Congress conference when he was apprehended.
The reasons behind Ajaero's arrest remain unclear, sparking immediate concerns and unrest within labour circles.
This incident follows a recent invitation by the DSS for Ajaero to answer questions related to the #EndBadGovernance protest and other allegations. Despite honoring the invitation, accompanied by senior lawyer Femi Falana and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, Ajaero now finds himself in detention.
In response to the arrest, the NLC has threatened a nationwide industrial strike if their leader is not released. Comrade Ado Kabiru Sani, the NLC's Deputy President, urged the nation's workforce to be on standby for further instructions. He stated, "As a committed labour centre, we will honour the invitation of the police because we are not a faceless organisation, but we are working with our lawyer for an extension of time.
In the event that the President is arrested, all workers will down tools immediately." Adding to the tension, there have been reports of security operatives allegedly raiding the NLC national office in Abuja on August 7.
The operatives, believed to be from the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force, reportedly entered the premises forcibly, arrested security guards, and confiscated numerous books and publications. However, the DSS has denied any involvement in the raid.
DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya clarified, "Good morning, dear friends. Pls kindly note that the Service (DSS) did not carry out any operation at the NLC office in Abuja."
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