The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, was taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja earlier today.
Ajaero was en route to the United Kingdom to attend a conference when he was apprehended by DSS operatives. He has since been transferred to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), fueling speculation about the reasons behind his arrest.
The circumstances surrounding Ajaero’s arrest are still unclear, but it comes on the heels of recent run-ins with security agencies. He was previously summoned by the police on August 19 and appeared on August 29, accompanied by his legal team and labour leaders, to answer questions about alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
In a separate development, Ajaero and NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja were summoned by the police on September 5 to answer questions regarding alleged criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause a breach of public peace, and malicious damage to properties.
The labour leader’s arrest has sparked widespread concern among Nigerian workers and activists, who view it as a crackdown on dissenting voices. Ajaero has been a vocal critic of government policies, leading several protests and strikes in recent months.
As the situation unfolds, many are left wondering about the motivations behind Ajaero’s arrest and the implications for the labour movement in Nigeria. This is a developing story, and further details will be provided as more information becomes available.
