The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has expressed outrage over the recent arrest of Mr. Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the reported raid on the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office in Abuja by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Ajaero was detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and shortly after, SERAP claimed that DSS operatives had raided its office.
In a statement on Tuesday, Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike, Executive Director of CLO, condemned the actions as indicative of President Tinubu’s regime moving towards a “full-blown civilian dictatorship and fascist authoritarianism.”
Ezike stated, “No justifications were provided for Ajaero’s illegal arrest by the government’s enforcement agents. The increasing violations of fundamental human rights and civil liberties since May 29, 2023, are deeply concerning.”
He criticized the government’s handling of rising costs for essential goods and services while targeting human rights defenders and institutions that oppose these actions. Ezike likened the government’s approach to that of notorious authoritarian leaders and called for a collective effort from local and international human rights groups, labor unions, and the global community to address these issues.
Ezike further condemned the timing of the actions, noting that while bandits were kidnapping healthcare workers in Kaduna, government agents were questioning a peaceful NLC leader and raiding SERAP’s office.
The CLO strongly denounced these actions and called for an end to the violations of human rights, asserting that Nigeria must uphold democratic values and ensure its citizens’ well-being and fundamental rights.
In response, the DSS issued a statement on Tuesday denying any unlawful conduct. The DSS claimed that two unarmed operatives were conducting a routine investigation at SERAP’s Abuja office and that the portrayal of their actions as harassment or intimidation was incorrect. The DSS urged the public to disregard these claims and reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism and national security.
