Police Headquarters in Abuja has clarified the alleged raid on the national secretariat of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), arguing that its personnel did not raid the Labour union’s headquarters as widely believed but went after a wanted foreign national who is a prime suspect in several criminal activities within the country and outside
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Police Headquarters in Abuja has clarified the alleged raid on the national secretariat of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), arguing that its personnel did not raid the Labour union’s headquarters as widely believed but went after a wanted foreign national who is a prime suspect in several criminal activities within the country and outside.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement titled, “NLC Secretariat: Nigeria Police did not raid the Labour Secretariat. Police clarifies alleged raid on Labour House, sets the record straight”.
The statement read:, “The Nigeria Police Force has noted a publication alleging that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National Secretariat, known as the Labour House, located in the Central Business District, Abuja, was raided by the Police.
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“On August 7, 2024, a press release issued by the NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations alleged that officers of the Nigeria Police Force, along with some individuals in black T-shirts and others in plain clothes, raided the Labour House.
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to clarify that a prime criminal suspect in an ongoing investigation was traced to a shop within the building in the Central Business District, Abuja.
“Detectives, armed with the appropriate legal authority, conducted an operation at the location, which turned out to be the NLC building.
“This well-coordinated, lawful operation was solely aimed at apprehending the prime suspect—a foreign national implicated in numerous criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.
“We emphasize that this operation had no connection with the NLC, its Secretariat, staff, or leadership.
“The NLC Secretariat was not the focus of the operation, which was targeted at a rented shop within the building used by the suspect as a front for his criminal activities in Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Police Force seeks the cooperation and support of the NLC leadership as we continue this investigation, which is vital to safeguarding our nation.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to upholding the rule of law, maintaining professionalism, and respecting human rights in the discharge of our statutory duties.
“We also urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and to conduct security profiling of individuals seeking to rent space within their premises.”
The statement did not indicate if the said suspect was apprehended or not. The clarification by the Police comes on the heels of condemnation by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) of the alleged invasion and demand for investigation into the incident.
TUC in a statement by its President, Comrade Festus Osifo, said the reported confiscation of books from the NLC library, allegedly in search of “End Bad Governance” materials, was a troubling act that raises serious concerns about the violation of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and expression.
“This action represents an overreach by security forces and poses a threat to the democratic principles that allow for peaceful dissent and free expression. We consider this invasion a direct attack on the rights of Nigerian citizens to freely express their views and to access information,” the statement said.
The TUC called on the Federal Government to immediately launch a thorough investigation into the alleged raid of NLC office.
