The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Abuja became the center of controversy on Wednesday night, as armed security personnel allegedly from the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the building, confiscating documents and other materials.
The raid, which took place at approximately 8:30 pm, has sparked a fierce debate between opposition parties and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Benson Upah, the security operatives forcibly entered the Labour House, ransacked the bookshop located on the second floor, and seized numerous publications.
“The invading team claimed that they were searching for seditious materials allegedly used during the #EndBad Governance protests,” Upah explained.
However, the DSS has denied any involvement in the raid. Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesman, said, “Please, kindly note that the Service (DSS) did not carry out any operation at the NLC office in Abuja.”
Opposition parties have strongly condemned the invasion, viewing it as an attempt to intimidate and suppress the labour union.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), criticized the raid, calling it a deliberate effort to coerce the citizens into silence.
He stated, “As a party, we do not support it, and we see it as a further attempt to coerce the citizens and get them into silence.”
Yunusa Tanko, the chief spokesman for the Labour Party presidential candidate, echoed these sentiments, describing the raid as unnecessary and disrespectful. He argued that security agencies could have handled the situation differently by issuing a warrant if there were any legitimate suspicions.
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, expressed concern over what he described as a regression to military-era tactics.
He questioned the government’s tolerance for constructive criticism and protests, which are fundamental elements of a democratic society.
Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), also condemned the raid, referring to it as a “shameful reminder” of the military dictatorship era. He emphasized that such actions have no place in a democracy and violate the rights of law-abiding citizens.
The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) joined in the condemnation, calling the invasion “an egregious abuse of democratic principles.” The CLO demanded the immediate return of the confiscated property and an apology from the authorities.
On the other hand, the APC has urged caution and called for patience while the matter is being investigated. The party’s National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, cautioned against rushing to conclusions and insisted that the situation might be more complex than it appears.
