The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an international investigation following a dramatic and controversial raid on its headquarters, Labour House, in Abuja by armed security operatives late Wednesday night. The raid, which occurred around 8:30 p.m., has ignited a firestorm of criticism and concern about the state of democratic freedoms in Nigeria.
According to a statement released by Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, the invasion was carried out by a group of heavily armed individuals, including members of the Nigeria Police Force and suspected operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS), some of whom were in plain clothes. The statement detailed the sequence of events and the NLC’s reaction to the breach.
Upah’s statement described the scene as chaotic and distressing. “A troop of heavily armed security operatives invaded the Labour House, the national headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress,” the statement read. “They initially targeted the 10th floor, where they arrested the security operative on duty. They then proceeded to the second floor, forcibly entering offices and ransacking the bookshop, taking hundreds of books and other publications.”
The security personnel, according to the NLC, claimed they were searching for “seditious materials” related to the #EndBadGovernance protests that have recently sparked widespread unrest across Nigeria. However, the NLC condemned the operation, arguing that the invaders lacked any legal documentation or court orders authorizing their actions.
“This raid represents a new low in the conduct of security operations in Nigeria,” Upah’s statement continued. “Even during the most repressive times of military rule, NLC offices were never subjected to such invasions. This is a dark day for our democracy.”
In light of the raid, the NLC has demanded an international inquiry into the incident, expressing fears over what they describe as a deterioration of democratic principles in Nigeria. The Congress has called on the international community to recognize and address the increasing suppression of democratic rights and freedoms.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress urges the international community to take note of the alarming decline in democratic norms,” the statement urged. “We fear that Nigeria is descending into a police state where dissent is met with brute force and intimidation.”
Additionally, the NLC has directed all staff to avoid the Labour House until an investigation confirms that no incriminating materials or harmful substances were left behind by the security forces. “For now, we are advising all staff to stay away from the Labour House until we are assured of their safety and the integrity of our offices,” Upah said.
The raid follows a series of protests that erupted across Nigeria on August 1, 2024, in response to rising living costs and alleged governance failures.
The protests, which have at times turned violent, have seen demands for regime change and have included provocative symbols such as Russian flags in some demonstrations.
President Bola Tinubu has responded to the unrest by ordering a crackdown on those involved in the protests, leading to a series of raids and arrests by security agencies. This aggressive stance has been criticized by human rights groups and opposition figures, who argue that it undermines the rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.
The NLC, which has been a vocal critic of the government’s handling of the protests, has accused the authorities of heavy-handed tactics. Earlier on the same day as the raid, the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) condemned the excessive force used against protesters and the mass arrests that followed.
