The Nigeria Labour Congress has condemned a late-night raid by armed security operatives on its headquarters, Labour House, in Abuja.

The NLC has called for an international investigation into the invasion, which it describes as a serious threat to democratic principles.

According to a statement from the NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Benson Upah, the raid occurred on Wednesday night, August 7, 2024.

Upah said, “This evening (yesterday) at about 8.30pm long after the close of work, a troop of heavily armed security operatives invaded the Labour House, Central Business District, Abuja, which serves as the National Headquarters and Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress.”

The statement explained that the security operatives included members of the Nigeria Police Force, some in black t-shirts from the Department of State Services, and others in plain clothes.

They reportedly arrested the security guard on duty and demanded the keys to the offices.

When the guard said he did not have the keys, the operatives broke into the offices and ransacked the bookshop, taking away hundreds of books and publications. The operatives claimed they were searching for “seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance Protests.”

The NLC strongly condemned the raid. “The Nigeria Labour Congress condemns in its entirety this new low in security operations in Nigeria,” the statement said. “The armed security operatives showed no legal document permitting them to invade the premises of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the ungodly hours of the night.”

The NLC also criticized the recent handling of protests and mass arrests. “Just this afternoon (yesterday), the National Executive Council of the NLC took note and vehemently condemned the high-handed manner that security agents manhandled protesters in many parts of the country and the needless bloodshed that ensued,” the statement added. “We also condemned the sweeping mass arrests of those perceived to have led the protest.”

The NLC expressed concerns about the erosion of democratic rights. “We call on the international community to take note of the deterioration of democratic principles in the bid to turn Nigeria into a Police State,” the statement said. “Given the state of things, the Nigeria Labour Congress has directed all its staff to stay away from the Labour House for now until we are certain that there are no incriminating materials or harmful substances dropped in our offices by the invading operatives.”

The NLC has demanded an international inquiry into the invasion and the immediate return of the stolen materials.

“We demand the immediate withdrawal of the troop of invading security agents from the premises of the Labour House, Abuja,” the statement said. “We also demand that all the books and materials carted away by the invading security operatives should be returned unfailingly to where they were taken from before the end of work tomorrow, 8th August 2024.”

The NLC warned that continued harassment could lead to a staff strike. “If this harassment continues, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not hesitate to call on its members to stay home until their safety and security are assured,” the statement concluded. “A stitch in time might still save nine!”