Operatives of the Department of the State Service, DSS, have arrested the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero.
It was gathered that he was arrested this morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Ajaero was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom, UK, for an official assignment when DSS picked him up.
Although details of the arrest and the reasons are still sketchy, sources said he has been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency, NIA.
According to sources, Ajaero was billed to attend the conference of Trade Union Congress, TUC, in the UK holding today.
NLC threatens showdown
The NLC has confirmed that “security operatives abducted its President, Joe Ajaero, and forcefully whisked him away without a warrant”.
Following the arrest, the NLC alerted all its affiliates, state councils, and Nigerian workers, urging them to remain vigilant and on high alert.
The NLC, in a statement by its Head Media/Information, Benson Upah, described the arrest as “an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country as the economic policies of the government continue to afflict the people with monumental suffering and hardship.”
Ajaero has been on the radar of security agents recently.
A statement by the union later said the NLC president had been detained.
The statement read in part “We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive. His detention is therefore a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body. His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation. The mere contemplation of not just stopping a lawful citizen from travelling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers.”
His arrest and detention came about a week after he honoured an invitation by the police on August 28. He was released the following day after honouring the invitation.
