DSS Releases Ajaero Minutes To NLC’s Deadline As Operatives Go After SERAP Directors

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The President of the Nigeria Labour Party (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero has been released on bail around 11.25pm by the Department of State Security (DSS) a few minutes to the midnight ultimatum issued by the unionists.

This is as a few hours after Ajaero’s arrest, operatives of the DSS laid siege to the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) located in Zone 1, Wuse, Abuja.

Ajaero was arrested on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.

He was billed to attend the British Trade Union Congress’ (TUC) conference in London, which started yesterday.

A national officer of the NLC, who confirmed his release to Daily Trust, explained that the secret police said the labour leader was released on bail.

Activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, also confirmed his release via a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday night.

Also, human rights activist and one of the lawyers of the NLC, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the release of the labour leader.

He said: “Yes, he has been released.”

SERAP Office Raided

In another development, a few hours after Ajaero’s arrest, operatives of the DSS laid siege to the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) located in Zone 1, Wuse, Abuja.

Although details of the operation at SERAP’s office were still sketchy as at the time of filing this report last night, the legal and advocacy organisation said the operatives demanded to see its directors.

“Officers from SSS are presently unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors.

“President Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation and attack on the rights of Nigerians,” the organisation said in a post on X.

SERAP on Sunday gave President Tinubu 48 days to reverse the recent hike in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS).

In an open letter dated September 7, 2024, signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations.”

Efforts to get an official position of the secret police did not yield results. The service had last week shut down its Directorate of Communications and redeployed its director, Peter Afunanya.

However, an operational phone number of the agency shared with journalists was called and the officer who picked the call urged our correspondent to send an email for confirmation but was yet to revert as promised as of press time last night.

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