Police raid on NLC office sparks outrage, Union labels it ‘harassment’

Police raid on NLC office sparks outrage, Union labels it ‘harassment’

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday challenged the police’s account of the Wednesday raid on its headquarters in Abuja.

While the police claimed their officers only visited a bookstore in the same building as the NLC to arrest a foreign national, the labour union asserted that the police forcefully entered its offices during the raid.

“The police claim to be conducting a nationwide investigation that involves other countries, yet their so-called intelligence led them to our building well after office hours.

“If they were acting in good faith, why did their investigation specifically target the 10th floor, where the offices of the NLC President and General Secretary are located? This is nothing but harassment disguised as an investigation,” said NLC General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja in a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday.

He maintained that the police deliberately raided the NLC offices but did not reveal whether anything was taken.

“You claimed to be searching for one individual, yet you went to the 10th floor and asked the security guard if you were in the Nigerian Labour Congress office. Does that sound like people who don’t know where they are going?” Ugboaja questioned.

He criticized the police operation, calling it “shameful.”

Ugboaja also mentioned that the NLC leadership had scheduled an emergency meeting for 4 p.m. on Saturday to discuss the incident and decide on the next steps.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also condemned the actions of the police in a statement on Friday, labeling them as both “shameful” and “lawless.”

“This act violates the fundamental principles of the rule of law and constitutional order upon which our democracy is built,” said NHRC Executive Secretary Anthony Ojukwu in the statement.

He called for the authorities to “immediately investigate this incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the raid occurred on Wednesday night when security operatives, some in plain clothes and others in black T-shirts, forced their way into Labour House.

The building, a 10-storey complex that houses the NLC’s national secretariat and several private businesses, was reportedly searched, with the operatives ransacking a bookstore within the premises and seizing hundreds of books and other materials.

In a statement released on Thursday, NLC spokesperson Benson Upah strongly criticized the raid, calling it an unprecedented attack on the organization.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress condemns in the strongest terms this new low in security operations in our country,” Upah stated. “Even during the darkest days of military rule, the NLC’s secretariats were never violated in this manner. Today is indeed a sad day for our democracy.”

When PREMIUM TIMES visited the premises on Thursday, a few hours after the raid, the NLC’s offices across three floors, including the 10th floor, were found deserted and locked.

The bookstore, reportedly owned by a foreign national engaged in publishing activities, remained closed, with its contents in disarray.

Read More At The Premium Times NG

More

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Police raid on NLC office sparks outrage, Union labels it 'harassment'

 

Log In

Or with username:

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.