DSS Arrests NLC President Joe Ajaero.

The Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on the morning of September 9, 2024, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Ajaero was en route to the United Kingdom to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London. The reasons for his arrest have not been officially disclosed, but there have been mentions of allegations including terrorism financing, which were previously levelled against him by the police. This arrest has sparked discussions and reactions across various platforms, with some users on X (formerly Twitter) expressing opinions on the implications and the context of this event. However, the full details surrounding the arrest, including the specific charges or the outcomes of any interrogations, remain unclear as of the latest updates.
- First Arrest/Detention: This incident occurred on November 1, 2023, in Owerri, Imo State. Joe Ajaero was arrested by the police at the NLC secretariat. The arrest was linked to a planned protest by the NLC against the Imo State government over workers’ rights issues. Following this arrest, there were reports of Ajaero being assaulted, with accounts of him being dragged, beaten, and even threatened. This event sparked significant outrage and discussion about police brutality and the rights of labor leaders in Nigeria.
- Second Arrest: On September 9, 2024, Joe Ajaero was arrested again, this time by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. He was detained while en route to the United Kingdom for an official engagement at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference. The reasons for this arrest were not immediately clear, but there were mentions of allegations including terrorism financing, which had been previously leveled against him by the police. This arrest has raised concerns about government interference with labor unions and civil liberties in Nigeria.