Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has spoken about his recent arrest and detention by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies.
Ajaero was detained at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en route to the United Kingdom for the Trade Union Congress. During his detention, which lasted over 16 hours, his phones and international passport were seized.
Ajaero confirmed on Tuesday that his belongings have been returned. “Yes, it is true. My phones and passport have been returned to me by the DSS,” he told Nigerian Tribune.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ajaero described the experience as troubling and confusing. He noted that the DSS appeared to be acting on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Police, as IRT operatives also interrogated him and took his statement during the detention.
Ajaero elaborated on the nature of the questioning, stating, “The IRT operatives who interrogated me were asking the same questions as in our previous meeting on August 29, 2024, with Mr. Femi Falana. They inquired about the operator of Iva Valley Bookshop on the second floor of the NLC secretariat and whether I had communicated with him. They also asked about protesters associated with #EndBadGovernance and #EndHunger, specifically Eleojo Opaluwa from the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), whom I had employed.”
On the Labour Party, Ajaero clarified, “They questioned us about the Labour Party, asking whether we run it. I explained that we do not run the Labour Party but are trustees of the party. The Labour Party, as it stands today, was founded during Adams Oshiomhole’s tenure as NLC President.”
Additionally, Ajaero addressed inquiries about a past dispute with Air Peace, stating, “They asked about the Air Peace issue, which we had resolved last year.”
Expressing frustration, Ajaero accused security agencies of harassment and intimidation. “It feels like they are searching for evidence to implicate us. This ongoing harassment seems aimed at embarrassing, persecuting, and intimidating us,” he said.
Ajaero’s comments highlight ongoing concerns about the treatment of prominent figures by security agencies and the implications for political and labor organizations in Nigeria.
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