Armed Men Raid NLC Headquarters in Abuja: Labour Union Kicks Back

 In a shocking turn of events, heavily armed security operatives invaded the Labour House in Abuja, which serves as the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The incident occurred on the night of August 7, 2024, long after office hours¹.

Around 8:30 PM, a team of security personnel, including members of the Nigeria Police Force and plainclothes individuals believed to be from the Department of State Services (DSS), descended upon the Labour House².

Their actions were swift and forceful, catching everyone off guard. The NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Benson Upah, confirmed that the security operatives invaded the 10th floor of the building, which houses the NLC’s offices¹.

The security man on duty was arrested, and the operatives demanded access to the offices. When he couldn’t produce the keys, they broke into the floor and ransacked the bookshop on the 2nd floor, taking away numerous books and publications¹.

The invading team claimed they were searching for seditious materials related to the #EndBadGovernance protests. However, no legal documents authorized their actions, and their invasion occurred during the ungodly hours of the night¹.

The Nigeria Labour Congress expressed outrage over the incident. In a statement, they condemned this unprecedented security operation and emphasized that even during the dark days of military rule, NLC secretariats were never invaded and ransacked¹.

The NLC’s National Executive Council had recently met to discuss the handling of protests and arrests across the country. Little did they expect that masked and heavily armed security operatives would storm their own headquarters shortly afterward¹.

The NLC called on the international community to take note of the deteriorating democratic principles in Nigeria. They expressed concern about turning the country into a police state and the erosion of citizens’ rights to peaceful protest and freedom of speech¹.

This incident marks a sad day for Nigerian democracy, and questions remain about the motives behind the raid. As the NLC vows to seek justice, the nation watches closely, hoping for transparency and accountability in the face of such actions¹.

¹: Armed men raid NLC headquarters in Abuja ²: NLC kicks, as security operatives invade Labour House, Abuja