Heavily armed security operatives, believed to be from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, on the night of August 7, 2024 invaded the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 PM, long after working hours, as detailed by Benson Upah, the NLC's Media and Public Relations Director.
The operatives, some dressed in police uniforms and others in plain clothes, forcibly entered the Labour House located in the Central Business District. They apprehended the on-duty security guard and demanded keys to offices on the second floor.
When the guard informed them that he did not have the keys, they broke into the floor and ransacked the bookshop, confiscating hundreds of books and other publications. The security forces claimed they were searching for seditious materials related to the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The NLC has condemned the invasion, describing it as "illegal and a grave violation of democratic principles."
In a statement, the union emphasized that "even in the dark days of military rule, NLC secretariats were never invaded and ransacked by security agents." The union has demanded an international inquiry into the incident and the immediate return of the confiscated materials.
Furthermore, the NLC has directed its staff to stay away from the office until further notice and warned that continued harassment might prompt a broader call for members to stay home to ensure their safety.
This incident follows a National Executive Council meeting where the NLC condemned the excessive force used by security agents during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
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