Ajaero has been on the radar of security agents recently.
Opeyemi Olamilekan
Abuja – Operatives of Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of the State Service (DSS) have arrested Joe Ajaero, the national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Ajaero was reportedly arrested this morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
He was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom, UK, for an official assignment when DSS operatives 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.
Both DSS and NIA did not respond to requests for comments.
Ajaero was billed to attend the conference of Trade Union Congress, TUC, in the UK holding today, sources said.
The NLC also confirmed that “security operatives abducted its President, Joe Ajaero, and forcefully whisked him away without a warrant”.
It 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.”
Reacting to Ajaero’s arrest, Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria said:“Amnesty International strongly condemns the unlawful arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS) today. The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released.
“The arbitrary arrest of Joe Ajaero shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu.
“President Bola Tinubu’s government persistently attacks and undermines the operations of the NLC through fabricated allegations, raids on NLC headquarters, and other forms of harassment and intimidation. This growing culture of impunity and disdain for workers’ rights to organize and seek better welfare must stop.
“Amnesty International has observed, in the last year, the increasing crackdown by Nigerian authorities on the labour union and civic space. The authorities continue to weaponize the police and DSS to repress the human rights of Nigerians.
“Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, including trade union membership and activities. The country is also a member of the International Labour Organization, whose fundamental principles, including the right to organize, are binding on all members.
“Under international human rights law, workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse.
“Joe Ajaero was arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights and must be immediately and unconditionally released.”
Ajaero has been on the radar of security agents recently.
In August, the NLC president honoured an invitation by the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, arm of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
This followed the police summons on August 19, asking him to appear the next day, and threatening him with arrest should he fail to comply.
But Ajaero, through human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), wrote to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) explaining why he could not honour the summon on the said date.
He, however, informed the IGP that he would come on August 29, to respond to the alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime.
True to his promise, Ajaero alongside Falana, Maxwell Opara, Deji Adeyanju, among other lawyers, and Labour leaders, went to the Force Headquarters to honour the police summons.
Again, less than 24 hours later, the police summoned the NLC president, and the General Secretary Emma Ugboaja, to appear at Force Headquarters on September 5.
This time around, the NLC President and the General Secretary are to answer questions over alleged criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause a breach of public peace, and malicious damage to properties.
They are being invited by the Force Intelligence Department (FID) of the Nigeria Police Force, Force Headquarters.
The police summons is dated August 28, 2024, entitled “Investigation activities. Invitation letter”, and signed by Commissioner of Police, Operations, Ibitoye Rufus Alajide, on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja.
The letter read: “In furtherance of investigations into the alleged case of criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause breach of public peace and malicious damage to properties in which your name featured.
“You are requested to come along with Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja for an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department, FID, through the undersigned, at SPO’s Room 112, 2nd Floor, Force Intelligence Department (FID) Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, opposite Force Headquarters Area 11, Garki, Abuja on Thursday, 5th September 2024 at 11 a.m.
“On arrival, you may wish to call Usman on GSM number 08039659139.
“Your cooperation in this regard is highly solicited, please.”
The NLC in August, accused the government of waging a war against the workers’ union, following a raid on its headquarters by security forces.
In a press conference, NLC leaders rejected the police explanation for the raid and demanded an apology, the return of seized items, and the release of detained individuals.
The NLC also condemned government attempts to interfere with its internal affairs, including a proposed reduction in the tenure of trade union leaders, arguing that such actions violate labour laws and international conventions.
The police had claimed the raid on the NLC headquarters was intended to apprehend an international terrorist suspect, a justification the NLC dismissed as a cover-up, citing inconsistencies in the police’s account.