Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Ajaero was detained on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as he was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.
Ajaero was scheduled to attend the Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference in London, which began today.
The NLC confirmed the arrest in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, describing the incident as an attack on Nigerian workers.
The statement read: “The assault on Nigerian workers continues. The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, was arrested and abducted by DSS operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, this morning while on his way to an official TUC engagement in the United Kingdom. He is now detained at the office of the NSA. This intimidation and assault must stop!”
Ajaero’s arrest comes after he was previously invited and interrogated by the Nigeria Police Force over allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony. The investigation followed a police raid on the NLC’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Authorities have alleged a connection between Ajaero and a British national, Andrew Wynne, who has been accused of financing the recent #EndBadGovernance or #Hunger protest in an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Ajaero had previously appeared for questioning on August 29. He and the NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, were summoned again for further questioning on Thursday, September 5, regarding alleged criminal intimidation, actions likely to breach public peace, and malicious property damage. The police letter inviting Ajaero for questioning was signed by Commissioner of Police Operations, Ibitoye Alajide, on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department, Abuja.
