The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has clarified the circumstances surrounding a recent operation at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) secretariat, emphasizing that the raid was not directed at the NLC, its members, or its leadership.
In a statement released on Friday, August 9, 2024, by the Police Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, it was revealed that the operation was focused on apprehending a suspected criminal who had been traced to a shop located in the Centre Business District of Abuja. This shop, coincidentally, is housed within the same building as the NLC secretariat.
Adejobi noted that the operation was carried out by detectives who had obtained the necessary legal authorization. The primary objective of the raid was to arrest a foreign national suspected of involvement in multiple criminal activities both within Nigeria and in other African countries.
The statement read, “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.”
“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 high-profile nature of the suspect poses a significant security threat to Nigeria and other African nations, making this investigation crucial for the safety of all involved, including the NLC.
“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.”
