- Security operatives suspected to be from the DSS invaded the NLC headquarters, claiming organized labour funded the #EndBadGovernance protests
- Labour leaders reported that the operatives stormed the building after members had left, raising concerns about further government actions against protests
Security operatives suspected of working for the Department of State Services (DSS) invaded the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters on claims that members of organised labour funded the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Certain labour leaders who spoke with the Daily Trust on Wednesday night said everyone had already left for their separate residences when the operatives stormed the facility.
One of the labour leaders said he spoke on the phone with one of the building’s private security guards, who confirmed that the masked operators with various firearms stormed in around 10 p.m.
He claimed that the guards informed him that the operatives walked immediately to the 10th floor of the building, which houses NLC President Joe Ajaero’s office.
The officer added that the guard told him the disguised operatives later returned to the second floor, which houses some NLC offices.
When reached, Benson Upah, Head of Information at NLC Headquarters, stated that a statement would be issued shortly, but as of the time this story was written, the statement had not been released.
Attempts to obtain an official response from the Department of State Services (DSS) were futile, since calls to the secret police spokesman, Peter Afunanya, went unanswered.
When I filed this story at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Wednesday, he had yet to respond to a text message I sent him.
On Thursday, August 1, hundreds of Nigerians took to the streets in certain states and the Federal Capital Territory to protest the rising cost of living in the country.
However, the demonstration took on a new dimension when certain individuals demanded regime change.
The Russian flag was flown in several parts of the country, prompting President Bola Tinubu to summon heads of security services to Aso Rock and order them to crack down on individuals jeopardising Nigeria’s democracy.
Following the directive, the DSS and other security agencies launched a series of raids, arresting dozens of people.
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