By Habeeb Ibrahim
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja earlier today.
Ajaero, who was en route to the United Kingdom for an official assignment, was reportedly taken into custody as he prepared to board his flight.
While the exact reasons for his arrest remain unclear, sources indicate that he has been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for further questioning.
Ajaero’s arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny from law enforcement agencies in recent weeks.
In August, Ajaero had been summoned by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police Force over allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
He honored the summons, accompanied by his legal team, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN). Despite this, the NLC leader faced another police summons for alleged criminal intimidation, breach of public peace, and malicious damage to property, with the most recent meeting scheduled for September 5, 2024.
As more details emerge, tensions are expected to rise between the government and labor unions, especially with the NLC’s recent stance on national economic policies. More updates on this developing story will follow as information becomes available.
