The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reported that security forces invaded its national headquarters in Abuja on the night of August 7, allegedly searching for seditious materials related to the #EndBadGovernance protests.
According to NLC spokesperson Benson Upah, operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force forcefully entered the Labour House in the Central Business District around 8:30 PM, well after office hours. The operatives, dressed in police uniforms and plain clothes, arrested the on-duty security guard, confiscated numerous books and publications, and ransacked the bookshop on the second floor.
“The security personnel claimed they were searching for seditious materials,” Upah explained, highlighting that the operatives showed no legal documentation for the raid, which the NLC has condemned as illegal and a severe violation of democratic principles.
The NLC has demanded an international inquiry into the incident and the immediate return of the confiscated items. Additionally, the union has instructed its staff to avoid the office until further notice, warning that continued harassment might lead to a broader call for members to stay home to ensure their safety.
This incident follows a recent National Executive Council meeting where the NLC criticized the excessive force used by security agents during the #EndBadGovernance protests, underscoring ongoing tensions between civil society and security forces in Nigeria and raising concerns about the country’s commitment to democratic norms and the rule of law.